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axon
[ ak-son ]
noun
- Cell Biology. the appendage of the neuron that transmits impulses away from the cell body.
axon
/ ˈæksəʊn; ˈæksɒn /
noun
- the long threadlike extension of a nerve cell that conducts nerve impulses from the cell body Compare dendrite
axon
/ ăk′sŏn′ /
- The long portion of a neuron that conducts impulses away from the body of the cell.
- Also called nerve fiber
axon
- The part of a nerve cell or neuron that transfers a nerve impulse from the nerve cell body to a synapse with another cell. ( See action potential .) Depending on the location of the cell, the length of an axon can vary widely. In some cases (such as the axons that form the spinal cord ), they may be several feet long.
Derived Forms
- ˈaxonal, adjective
Other Words From
- axon·al [ak, -s, uh, -nl, ‑-son-l], adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of axon1
Word History and Origins
Origin of axon1
Example Sentences
"The activity of a neuron can regulate the extent to which its axon is myelinated."
If neurons are telephones that send messages between brain cells, axons are the lines that connect them, allowing communication across the brain.
The latest map in Science contains never-before-seen details of brain structure, including a rare but powerful set of axons connected by up to 50 synapses.
The devices intercept the signals travelling on the axons, or nerve fibres, of the spinal cord, allowing the signals to be recorded.
These useful cells in the brain, called oligodendrocytes, are responsible for producing myelin sheaths that wrap around cable-like parts of nerve cells called axons, much like the plastic insulation around a wire.
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More About Axon
What is an axon?
The axon is the part of the neuron that carries impulses away from the cell body.
Neurons are the cells that gather information in the form of impulses and send them throughout the body. The neuron is made up of the cell body, the dendrites, and the axon.
The axon, also called the nerve fiber, resembles a long, threadlike fiber. Most neurons only have a single axon. In vertebrates, the axon is covered by a myelin sheath made mostly of fat, protein, and water. The sheath increases the speed that impulses travel.
The axon’s job is to move the impulses away from the cell body to another neuron or a muscle. The travel process is similar to electricity moving down a wire. At the end of an axon are bulbous structures called axon terminals, which form special junctions that connect the axon to other neurons or muscles. These junctions, called synapses, involve tiny gaps that the impulse jumps over to leave the axon. The impulse then travels through the new neuron and will eventually move through another axon. This process will repeat until the impulse reaches its destination.
Why is axon important?
The first records of the term axon come from around 1835. It comes from the Greek áxōn, meaning “axle or axis.”
In a manner of speaking, the axon acts as the main road leading out of the “city” of the cell body. Impulses can travel through the axon very quickly and range in speeds from 1 to 100 meters per second. This very fast speed explains why your finger will move away really quickly if you poke yourself on a sharp needle.
Did you know … ?
Depending on where they are located, axons can vary in length. Most axons are smaller than a millimeter, but the axons found in the neurons located in the spinal cord can stretch for over a meter.
What are real-life examples of axon?
The axon is one of the three major parts of a neuron that students learn about when studying the nervous system.
Synapse, the space between one neuron's axon terminals and the next neuron's dendrites. Chemical messengers called neurotransmitters are found here.
— Hugo Cetina Andrade (@HugoCetina) May 10, 2020
I'm a senior in college and still learning about the neuron, axon, dendrites, and myelin sheath. 😑
— Mallory Miller (@MalloryyyM) January 25, 2017
What other words are related to neuron?
Quiz yourself!
True or False?
The axon carries impulses toward the cell body.
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