Axon
Definition:
Thin, elongated part of the neuron that carries information away from the cell body to other neurons, gland cells or muscle fibers.
Background:
Axons range in size from less than a millimetre in the brain to more than three feet in the spinal cord, and are typically long and straight. They end in swollen, bulblike structures called terminal buttons. Information is transmitted faster in insulated or myelinated axons.
Further Reading:
Carlson, N. R. (1990). Physiology of Behavior. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Kalat, J. W. (1992). Biological Psychology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Pinel, J. P.L. (1990). Biopsychology. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Milner, P. M. (1970). Physiological psychology. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston inc.
Related Terms:
Dendrites
Myelin
Neurons
Soma
Terminal buttons
Self-Instructional Resource:
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