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  2. Axon - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axon

    Axon. An axon (from Greek ἄξων áxōn, axis) or nerve fiber (or nerve fibre: see spelling differences) is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, in vertebrates, that typically conducts electrical impulses known as action potentials away from the nerve cell body. The function of the axon is to transmit information to ...

  3. Motor neuron - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_neuron

    A motor neuron (or motoneuron or efferent neuron[1]) is a neuron whose cell body is located in the motor cortex, brainstem or the spinal cord, and whose axon (fiber) projects to the spinal cord or outside of the spinal cord to directly or indirectly control effector organs, mainly muscles and glands. [2] There are two types of motor neuron ...

  4. Lower motor neuron - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_motor_neuron

    Glutamate released from the upper motor neurons triggers depolarization in the lower motor neurons in the anterior grey column, which in turn causes an action potential to propagate the length of the axon to the neuromuscular junction where acetylcholine is released to carry the signal across the synaptic cleft to the postsynaptic receptors of the muscle cell membrane, signaling the muscle to ...

  5. Alpha motor neuron - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_motor_neuron

    Alpha motor neurons are derived from the basal plate (basal lamina) of the developing embryo. Alpha (α) motor neurons (also called alpha motoneurons), are large, multipolar lower motor neurons of the brainstem and spinal cord. They innervate extrafusal muscle fibers of skeletal muscle and are directly responsible for initiating their contraction.

  6. Nervous tissue - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_tissue

    Nervous tissue is made up of different types of neurons, all of which have an axon. An axon is the long stem-like part of the cell that sends action potentials to the next cell. Bundles of axons make up the nerves in the PNS and tracts in the CNS. Functions of the nervous system are sensory input, integration, control of muscles and glands ...

  7. Action potential - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_potential

    As an action potential (nerve impulse) travels down an axon there is a change in electric polarity across the membrane of the axon. In response to a signal from another neuron, sodium- (Na +) and potassium- (K +)–gated ion channels open and close as the membrane reaches its threshold potential. Na + channels open at the beginning of the ...

  8. Axon reflex - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axon_reflex

    The axon reflex was discovered and was described as "a new type of peripheral reflex" that bypasses the integration center and synapse in the central nervous system. The discovery of the axonal reflex found that the axon reflex activates local arterioles causing vasodilation and muscle contraction. This muscle contraction was observed in people ...

  9. Neuroeffector junction - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroeffector_junction

    Neuroeffector junction. A neuroeffector junction is a site where a motor neuron releases a neurotransmitter to affect a target—non-neuronal—cell. This junction functions like a synapse. However, unlike most neurons, somatic efferent motor neurons innervate skeletal muscle, and are always excitatory. Visceral efferent neurons innervate ...