Axon

Intro | Axon | Axon Hillock | Dendrites | Myelin Sheath | Nodes of Ranvier | Soma | Synapse | Terminal Buttons

Part 1: Image-Mapped Tutorial
Part 2: Matching Self-Test
Part 3: Multiple-Choice Self-Test

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The Axon of a neuron is a singular fiber that carries information away from the soma to the synaptic sites of other neurons (dendrites and somas), muscles, or glands. The axon is considerably thicker and longer than the dendrites of a neuron. Larger neurons have a markedly expanded region at the initial end of the axon. This axon hillock is the site of temporal and spatial summation for incoming information. At any given moment, the collective influence of all neurons that conduct impulses to a given neuron will determine whether or not an action potential will be initiated at the axon hillock and propagated along the axon.