Which term refers to specialized nerve cells that make up the central nervous system?

The term that refers to specialized nerve cells that make up the central nervous system is neurons. Neurons are the fundamental building blocks of the nervous system, responsible for transmitting information throughout the body. They are specialized cells that can process and transmit electrical and chemical signals, allowing for communication between different parts of the body and the brain.

To elaborate, neurons consist of various parts such as the cell body, axon, and dendrites. The axon is a long, slender part of the neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body, while dendrites are branching extensions that receive signals from other neurons. Synapses, on the other hand, are the junctions between neurons where communication occurs, but they are not cells themselves. Therefore, neurons are the correct answer as they specifically denote the specialized nerve cells central to the functioning of the nervous system.