What Does the Axon Do?

Axon, also called nerve fibre, portion of a nerve cell (neuron) that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body. A neuron typically has one axon that connects it with other neurons or with muscle or gland cells.

What are axons responsible for?

Summary. An axon is a thin fiber that extends from a neuron, or nerve cell, and is responsible for transmitting electrical signals to help with sensory perception and movement. Each axon is surrounded by a myelin sheath, a fatty layer that insulates the axon and helps it transmit signals over long distances.

How does an axon work?

An axon, or nerve fiber, is a long slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body or soma. Axons are in effect the primary transmission lines of the nervous system, and as bundles they help make up nerves.