What does it mean for your body that dendrites carry impulses toward the cell body and axons carry impulses away from the cell body?

1 Answer
Jun 22, 2016

It is true that axons deliver the impulse at its end while dendrites receive the signals: this is evident from the question as well. This could be explained by the kind of structures axons and dendrites possess at their terminal ends.

Explanation:

Axons are capable of releasing neurotransmitter materials like acetylcholine which diffuse through synaptic cleft (a gap between axon and adjacent dendron). Axons can thus deliver message through neurosecretion.

Dendritic terminal membranes are on the other hand equipped with receptor molecules specific for neurotransmitter diffusing across nearby cleft. Dendrites can thus receive message by chemoreception.

Structural and functional uniqueness of neuronal terminals help in UNI-directional conduction of nerve impulse. In turn this helps in formation of dedicated afferent and efferent tracts for nerve impulse transmission.

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