EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The branches of axons are known as axon collaterales. The axon itself is often surrounded by a membranous material, called the myelin sheath, formed by glia cells.

Detailed explanation-2: -A nerve cell (neuron) consists of a large cell body and nerve fibers-one elongated extension (axon) for sending impulses and usually many branches (dendrites) for receiving impulses. The impulses from the axon cross a synapse (the junction between two nerve cells) to the dendrite of another cell.

Detailed explanation-3: -Dendrites receive and integrate signals from other neurons or from sensory stimuli, and conduct nerve impulses towards the axon or the cell body. In most neurons, the impulse is conveyed from dendrites to axon via the cell body, but in some types of unipolar neuron, the impulse does not travel via the cell body.

Detailed explanation-4: -The word “dendrite” is Greek for “tree", and reflects the appearance of the dendrites. Dendrites resemble the branches of a tree as they extend from the soma. The dendrites for a single neuron are collectively called the dendritic tree, and each branch is called a dendritic branch.

Detailed explanation-5: -Typical neurons have several dendrites-branching processes that conduct impulses toward the cell body, and a single axon-a long straight process that conducts impulses away from the cell body. Axons are often referred to as nerve fibers.