Axons
Axons
Axons (/ˈæks.ɒn/), also known as nerve fibers, are long, slender projections of nerve cells, or neurons, that typically conduct electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body. They play a crucial role in transmitting information between different neurons in the nervous system.
Etymology
The term "axon" comes from the Greek word 'ἄξων' (áxōn), which means 'axis' or 'axle'. It was first introduced in the field of neurobiology in the mid-19th century by British scientist, Thomas Henry Huxley.
Structure
Axons are composed of a complex system of membranes and cytoskeleton structures. The main components include the axon hillock, the initial segment, the myelin sheath, nodes of Ranvier, and the axon terminal.
- Axon Hillock: The part of the cell body of a neuron where the axon originates.
- Initial Segment: The segment of the axon where action potentials are initiated.
- Myelin Sheath: A layer of fatty tissue that insulates the axon and speeds up the transmission of nerve impulses.
- Nodes of Ranvier: Small gaps in the myelin sheath where the axon membrane is exposed.
- Axon Terminal: The endpoint of an axon where it makes synaptic contacts with other cells.
Function
The primary function of an axon is to transmit information in the form of electrical impulses, known as action potentials, from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands. This process is essential for the communication and coordination of activities throughout the body.
Related Terms
- Dendrites: Branch-like structures of neurons that receive messages from other neurons.
- Synapse: The junction between two neurons where information is transmitted from one to another.
- Neurotransmitter: Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.
- Myelin: A fatty substance that surrounds and insulates the axons of some neurons, speeding up signal transmission.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Axons
- Wikipedia's article - Axons
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski