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Related Concept Videos

Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Action Potentials01:41

Action Potentials

Overview
Neurons: The Axon01:21

Neurons: The Axon

Axons are long, cytoplasmic processes of nerve cells capable of propagating electrical impulses known as action potentials. The cytoplasm or axoplasm of an axon contains neurofibrils, neurotubules, small vesicles, lysosomes, mitochondria, and various enzymes, all encased within the axolemma, the plasma membrane of the axon.
The axon attaches to the cell body at a cone-shaped elevation called the axon hillock. The initial part of the axon, closest to the hillock, is known as the initial segment.
Nervous Tissue: Myelin01:25

Nervous Tissue: Myelin

The myelin sheath is a multilayered lipid and protein covering that insulates the axon of a neuron, enhancing the speed of nerve impulse conduction. Axons without this sheath are referred to as unmyelinated. Two types of neuroglia, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) are responsible for producing myelin sheaths.
Schwann cells begin to form myelin sheaths around axons during fetal development. They wrap around a small...
Neurons as Communicators of the Brain01:22

Neurons as Communicators of the Brain

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, function as the primary transmitters of information throughout the body. Their ability to communicate through electrical and chemical signals is vital for every bodily function, from regulating the heartbeat to processing complex thoughts. Each neuron has three main components: the cell body (soma), dendrites, and an axon, each specialized to facilitate swift and efficient neural communication.
Cell Body
The cell body, also known...

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Rewiring Neuronal Circuits: A New Method for Fast Neurite Extension and Functional Neuronal Connection
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Rewiring Neuronal Circuits: A New Method for Fast Neurite Extension and Functional Neuronal Connection

Published on: June 13, 2017

Why do axons differ in caliber?

János A Perge1, Jeremy E Niven, Enrico Mugnaini

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6396, USA.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|January 13, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Axon diameter is primarily determined by the information rate it must transmit. Thicker axons carry more information but require exponentially more energy, favoring thinner axons for efficiency.

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Genetic Study of Axon Regeneration with Cultured Adult Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons
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Genetic Study of Axon Regeneration with Cultured Adult Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons
09:42

Genetic Study of Axon Regeneration with Cultured Adult Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

Published on: August 17, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Central nervous system (CNS) axons exhibit a wide range of diameters (0.1-10 micrometers).
  • Axon diameter influences its cross-sectional area, volume, and energy capacity, potentially related to mitochondrial content.
  • Understanding the factors that determine axon caliber is crucial for comprehending neural information processing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional requirements that dictate axon diameter.
  • To explore the relationship between axon caliber, information transmission rate, and energy constraints.

Main Methods:

  • Surveyed 16 fiber groups across five species (guinea pig, rat, monkey, locust, octopus).
  • Analyzed axon diameter distribution, firing frequencies, and mitochondrial volume relative to axon length.
  • Examined the trade-offs between information rate, axon volume, and energy consumption.

Main Results:

  • Thin axons are the most numerous across surveyed fiber groups.
  • Mean firing frequencies increase with axon diameter, ranging from approximately 1 to over 100 Hz.
  • Mitochondrial volume per axon length increases at least with the square of the axon diameter (≥d(2)).
  • Fiber diameter distribution reflects the heterogeneity of information rates conveyed by individual axons.

Conclusions:

  • Information transmission rate appears to be the primary determinant of axon caliber.
  • Axons are constrained to deliver information at the lowest feasible rate to optimize energy efficiency.
  • Larger diameter axons may be necessary for encoding complex features that cannot be efficiently transmitted via multiple low-rate channels.