Question

The function of an axon is
(a) Transformation of nerve impulse
(b) Reception of stimuli from neurons
(c) Reception of external stimuli
(d) Conduction of nerve impulse

Answer 1

Hint: A neuron typically has one axon that connects it with other neurons or with gland cells or muscle cells. Some axons may be quite long reaching like the spinal cord down to the toe.

Complete answer:
The function of an axon is ‘conduction of nerve impulse’. The axon is a long fiber that arises from the cell body. Each neuron may possess many dendrites but has only a single long axon. One end of the axon that is attached to the cell body is known as the proximal whereas another end of the axon which is away from the cell body is known as the distal end. The distal end shows a branching pattern. This end of the axon is divided into definite branches which are called the axon terminals. Each axon terminal ends as a bulb-like structure known as the synaptic knob. These bulb-like structures are referred to as the synaptic knobs because these knobs participate in the synapse formation. The cytoplasm present in the axon is axoplasm. In the axoplasm present inside the synaptic knobs; synaptic vesicles are present. Each synaptic vesicle contains a neurotransmitter. Like the dendrites transmit the nerve impulses towards the cell body, the axons transmit the nerve impulses away from the cell body to a synapse or to a neuromuscular junction influenced by upon whether the information is being conveyed to other neuron or to a muscle fiber, separately. Hence, the axons take away the information from the cell body of the neuron to which they belong.
So, the correct answer is ‘Conduction of nerve impulse’.

Note: Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemicals acting as signaling molecules that allow neurotransmission. They are a variety of chemical messengers that communicate signals over a chemical synapse from one neuron to another ideal neuron, to a muscle cell, or to a gland cell.