Axon vs. Dendrite — What's the Difference?

An axon is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell that typically conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body.

Dendrites are tree-like extensions at the beginning of a neuron that help in receiving signals from other neurons.

Each neuron has one axon that can branch into multiple axon terminals.

Dendrites play a crucial role in integrating synaptic inputs, which can influence neuronal output.

The axon hillock is the part of the neuron where the axon joins the cell body, crucial for initiating nerve signals.

Unlike axons, dendrites do not typically carry signals over long distances.

Axons are integral to the central nervous system, where they transmit signals rapidly across different parts of the body.

Dendritic spines are small protrusions that receive inputs from axons at synapses.

In some diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, the myelin sheath of axons is damaged, affecting their function.

The structure of dendrites allows them to receive multiple signals simultaneously.

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 different neurons, muscles, and glands.

Dendrites (from Greek δένδρον déndron, "tree"), also dendrons, are branched protoplasmic extensions of a nerve cell that propagate the electrochemical stimulation received from other neural cells to the cell body, or soma, of the neuron from which the dendrites project. Electrical stimulation is transmitted onto dendrites by upstream neurons (usually via their axons) via synapses which are located at various points throughout the dendritic tree.

The long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells.

A mineral crystallizing in another mineral in the form of a branching or treelike mark.

The usually long process of a nerve fiber that generally conducts impulses away from the body of the nerve cell.

A rock or mineral bearing such a mark or marks.

(cytology) A nerve fibre which is a long slender projection of a nerve cell, and which conducts nerve impulses away from the body of the cell to a synapse.

A branched protoplasmic extension of a nerve cell that conducts impulses from adjacent cells inward toward the cell body. A single nerve may possess many dendrites. Also called dendron.

Long nerve fiber that conducts away from the cell body of the neuron

(cytology) A slender projection of a nerve cell which conducts nerve impulses from a synapse to the body of the cell; a dendron.

(cytology) Slender cell process emanating from the cell bodies of dendritic cells and follicular dendritic cells of the immune system.

Tree-like structure of crystals growing as material crystallizes

A hermit who lived in a tree

A stone or mineral on or in which are branching figures resembling shrubs or trees, produced by a foreign mineral, usually an oxide of manganese, as in the moss agate; also, a crystallized mineral having an arborescent form, e. g., gold or silver; an arborization.

Short fiber that conducts toward the cell body of the neuron

Axons are typically longer, less branched until their terminations, and often myelinated, whereas dendrites are shorter, highly branched, and unmyelinated.

The primary function of an axon is to transmit electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body.

Dendrites receive and integrate signals from other neurons, contributing to the decision-making process of whether the neuron will fire a signal through its axon.

Damage to axons can disrupt the transmission of signals within the nervous system, leading to various neurological symptoms.

While dendrites mainly receive signals, certain types can generate electrical signals, particularly during complex synaptic integrations.

Most neurons have both, but some neuron types may lack dendrites or have axons that perform both input and output functions.

Axons and dendrites work together to transmit and receive information, respectively, allowing neurons to communicate effectively within neural circuits.

Myelination of axons helps increase the speed of electrical signal transmission, allowing for faster communication between distant parts of the nervous system.

Axonal damage can lead to severe impairments in movement, sensation, or cognitive functions, depending on which part of the nervous system is affected.

Yes, the length and branching of dendrites can vary widely, reflecting the specific input needs and integration complexity of different neuron types.

The structure directly influences their function: axons are optimized for fast signal transmission over distances, while dendrites are optimized for signal reception and integration.

No, axon terminals are designed to release neurotransmitters, whereas dendritic spines are structured to receive and respond to these chemicals.

Dendrites are typically not myelinated; their function involves the local processing of incoming signals, which does not require the rapid transmission provided by myelination.

The axon hillock is crucial for initiating nerve impulses, determining whether the neuronal conditions are sufficient to generate a signal.

Yes, dendrites play a crucial role in determining the neuronal output by integrating various synaptic inputs.