Axon terminal

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Through a process of differentiation, a neuron undergos 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 od unmyelinated axon, known as Nodes of Ranvier, which the impulse to jumps over, increasing speed of the impulse. Short branched ends of the axon are called the axon termini and these are where signals are passed along to the next neurone by use of electrochemical signals and neurotransmitter chemicals [1]

References

  1. Lodish H, Berk A, Kaiser A, Krieger M, Scott M, Bretscher A, Ploegh H (2010), Molecular Cell Biology, 6th edition, New York : WH Freeman