Axon terminal

Definition

The axon terminal, also known as the synaptic knob, is the extremity of an axon that facilitates the transmission of signals to another neuron or effector cell through the synapse. It contains neurotransmitters which are released into the synaptic cleft to propagate nerve impulses.

Related terms

Synapse:

A junction between two neurons or a neuron and a muscle where signals are transmitted from one cell to another.

Neurotransmitter:

Chemical substances released by neurons that transmit signals across a synapse to another neuron or effector cell.

Axon:

A long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that typically conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body