axon

Thân thiện

The axon transmits electrical signals from the neuron to other cells.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The long, slender projection of a neuron (nerve cell) that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body. An axon is a fundamental part of a nerve cell responsible for transmitting signals to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Usage

• The term "axon" is used specifically in the fields of biology, neuroscience, and anatomy to describe this essential neural structure.
• It is typically used as a countable noun (e.g., , , ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The axon of a motor neuron can be very long, extending from the spinal cord to a muscle in the foot.
  • Electrical signals travel along the axon to the synaptic terminal.
  • Damage to the axon can disrupt neural communication.

Advanced Usage

• Axonal transport: Refers to the process of moving materials along the length of an axon.
  • Axonal transport is crucial for supplying nutrients to the synaptic terminal.
• Axon hillock: The specialized region of the neuron cell body where the axon originates and where action potentials are often initiated.
  • The axon hillock integrates incoming signals before generating an action potential.

Variants and Related Words

• Axonal (adjective): Pertaining to or of the nature of an axon.
  • Axonal damage is a feature of some neurodegenerative diseases.
• Axoneme (noun): A different biological term referring to the central strand of a cilium or flagellum. (Note: This is a related but distinct anatomical structure).

Synonyms

• Nerve fiber: A more general term that can include axons along with their myelin sheaths.
• Neurite: A broad term for any projection from a neuron's cell body, which can be an axon or a dendrite.

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Axon terminal: Also called the synaptic terminal; the end of an axon where it forms a junction with another cell and releases neurotransmitters.
  • Neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles at the axon terminal.
• Myelinated axon: An axon that is insulated by a myelin sheath, which speeds up signal transmission.
  • Myelinated axons appear white, forming the brain's white matter.

Học thuật

Noun

1. long nerve fiber that conducts away from the cell body of the neuron

Từ đồng nghĩa

• axone