axon

noun

ax·​on ˈak-ˌsän 

variants or less commonly axone

ˈak-ˌsōn 

: a usually long and single nerve-cell process that usually conducts impulses away from the cell body see neuron illustration

axonal

ˈak-sə-nᵊl  ak-ˈsä-  -ˈsō- 

adjective

Examples of axon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fascinatingly, a neuron’s cell body can measure a tenth of a millimeter across, while its axons can stretch more than 3 feet in length, as in the leg’s sciatic nerve. —Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2024

Nerves, in turn, are made up of bundles of axons, the individual filaments that transmit signals throughout the body. —Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2024

Prevailing Idea: Electric Pulse In the conventional view, a nerve signal is transmitted in the membrane that makes up the axon’s outer wall. —Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2018

New View: Mechanical Wave In the new view, a nerve signal is also transmitted in the axon’s membrane but as a shock wave that travels down the axon. —Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

New Latin axon, from Greek axōn

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

axon

noun

ax·​on ˈak-ˌsän 

variants also axone

-ˌsōn 

: a usually long and single process of a neuron that usually carries impulses away from the cell body compare dendrite sense 2

axonal

ˈak-sən-ᵊl 

ak-ˈsän-

-ˈsōn-

adjective

Medical Definition

axon

noun

ax·​on ˈak-ˌsän 

variants also axone

-ˌsōn 

: a usually long and single nerve-cell process that usually conducts impulses away from the cell body