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Structure of a typical neuron
Axon
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Axon
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An
axon or
nerve fiber is one of the three primary parts of a
neuron. The word comes from the Greek άξονα "axona", meaning "line" or "axis". It is an extension that grows away from the
soma or cell body and is used to propagate an
electrical impulse from one neuron to another as a means of communication. Axons are often bundled together in groups called
nerves. These nerves are the transmission lines that move information through the body. The axon has several major anatomical parts: the
Axon hillock, the
Axon initial segment, the
myelinated portions, and the unmyelinated portions referred to as the
Node of Ranvier.
References
- Martin, JH (2003). Neuroanatomy text and atlas 3rd ed., New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Kandel, ER; Schwartz JH, Jessell TM (2000). Principles of Neural Science, 4th ed., New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-8385-7701-6.