Axon terminal
Axon Terminal
The Axon Terminal (pronunciation: /ˈæksɒn ˈtɜːrmɪnəl/), also known as the synaptic bouton or terminal bouton, is a specialized area at the end of a neuron that communicates with another neuron's dendrite or effector cell across a synapse.
Etymology
The term "axon terminal" is derived from the Greek words "axon" (ἄξων), meaning "axis", and "terminal", from the Latin "terminus", meaning "end". The term "bouton" is derived from the French word for "button", referring to the button-like appearance of the structure under a microscope.
Function
The primary function of the Axon Terminal is to transmit signals from the neuron to other cells. This is achieved through the release of neurotransmitters, which are stored in vesicles within the axon terminal. When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it triggers the release of these neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, where they can bind to receptors on the post-synaptic cell and initiate a response.
Related Terms
- Neuron: The basic working unit of the brain, a specialized cell designed to transmit information to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells.
- Dendrite: The branched projections of a neuron that act to propagate the electrochemical stimulation received from other neural cells to the cell body, or soma, of the neuron from which the dendrites project.
- Synapse: A structure that permits a neuron (or nerve cell) to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron or to the target effector cell.
- Neurotransmitter: Endogenous chemicals that enable neurotransmission. It is a type of chemical messenger which transmits signals across a chemical synapse, such as a neuromuscular junction, from one neuron (nerve cell) to another "target" neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell.
- Action Potential: A short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Axon terminal
- Wikipedia's article - Axon terminal
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