Branches that may occur along an axon are called
A hillocks.
B telodendria.
C synaptic terminals.
D collaterals.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is C synaptic terminals.
In a neuron, synaptic terminals are the structures responsible for transmitting nerve impulses to other neurons, muscles, or glands. These terminals are located at the ends of the axons and contain synaptic vesicles filled with neurotransmitters. When an action potential reaches the synaptic terminal, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synapse, which is the gap between two neurons. These neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, causing a response that can either excite or inhibit the next neuron in the pathway. This process is essential for communication within the nervous system.
Synaptic terminals are critical in the process of synaptic transmission, which is how signals are transmitted across the nervous system. The transmission across the synapse is a highly controlled and precise process. The vesicles containing neurotransmitters fuse with the presynaptic membrane in response to an influx of calcium ions, which occurs when the action potential reaches the terminal. The neurotransmitters then diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic cell, leading to either excitation or inhibition depending on the type of neurotransmitter and receptor involved.
Collaterals, on the other hand, are branches that some axons form, but they do not play the direct role in neurotransmitter release like synaptic terminals. While collaterals may help in the branching of the neuron to communicate with multiple cells, they are not involved in the final step of neurotransmission, which occurs at the synaptic terminal.