Axon terminal

Through a process of differentiation, a neuron undergoes growth to develop a long extended arm called the axon. Electrical impulses pass along the axon, carrying a signal that will act as a stimulus for a certain muscle or cell. The axon is covered with electrical insulator called the Myelin Sheath (made up of many Schwann cells wrapped around the axon). In between these are areas of unmyelinated axon, known as Nodes of Ranvier, which the impulse jumps over, increasing its speed. Short branched ends of the axon are called the axon termini and these are where signals are passed along to the next neuron by use of electrochemical signals and neurotransmitter chemicals .