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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. Schwann cell - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwann_cell

    Schwann cells are known for their roles in supporting nerve regeneration. [6] Nerves in the PNS consist of many axons myelinated by Schwann cells. If damage occurs to a nerve, the Schwann cells aid in digestion of its axons (phagocytosis). Following this process, the Schwann cells can guide regeneration by forming a type of tunnel that leads ...

  4. Myelin - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myelin

    Myelin (/ ˈmaɪ.əlɪn / MY-ə-lin) is a lipid -rich material that surrounds nerve cell axons (the nervous system's electrical wires) to insulate them and increase the rate at which electrical impulses (called action potentials) pass along the axon. [ 1 ][ 2 ] The myelinated axon can be likened to an electrical wire (the axon) with insulating ...

  5. Oligodendrocyte - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligodendrocyte

    Oligodendrocytes accomplish this by forming the myelin sheath around axons. [1] Unlike Schwann cells, a single oligodendrocyte can extend its processes to cover around 50 axons, [2] with each axon being wrapped in approximately 1 μm of myelin sheath. Furthermore, an oligodendrocyte can provide myelin segments for multiple adjacent axons. [1]

  6. Node of Ranvier - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Node_of_Ranvier

    Latin. incisura myelini. MeSH. D011901. TH. H2.00.06.2.03015. Anatomical terms of microanatomy. [edit on Wikidata] In neuroscience and anatomy, nodes of Ranvier (/ ˈrɑːnvieɪ / RAHN-vee-ay), [1][2] also known as myelin-sheath gaps, occur along a myelinated axon where the axolemma is exposed to the extracellular space.

  7. Axon terminal - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axon_terminal

    Axon terminals (also called synaptic boutons, or presynaptic terminals) are distal terminations of the branches of an axon. An axon, also called a nerve fiber, is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell that conducts electrical impulses called action potentials away from the neuron's cell body to transmit those impulses to other neurons ...

  8. 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 ...

  9. Axonal transport - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axonal_transport

    Axonal transport. Axonal transport, also called axoplasmic transport or axoplasmic flow, is a cellular process responsible for movement of mitochondria, lipids, synaptic vesicles, proteins, and other organelles to and from a neuron 's cell body, through the cytoplasm of its axon called the axoplasm. [1] Since some axons are on the order of ...