Neurite

The process of a nerve cell along which impulses travel away from the cell body. It branches at its termination, forming synapses at other nerve cells or effector organs. Many axons are covered by a myelin sheath formed from the cell membrane of a glial or Schwann cell.

• a. hillock — the elevation on the perikaryon from which the axon emerges.
• a. reflex — a nerve impulse conducted through nerve pathways limited to the single axon, without the participation of a nerve cell or synapse. Not a true reflex.
• a. telodendrion — extensive terminal branches of the axon before terminating on the effector organ.
• a. terminals — the axonal structure capable of forming a synapse with another axon.

A neurite refers to any projection from the cell body of a neuron. This projection can be either an axon or a dendrite. The term is frequently used when speaking of immature or developing neurons, especially of cells in culture, because it can be difficult to tell axons from dendrites before differentiation is complete.

Neurites are often packed with microtubule bundles, the growth of which is stimulated by Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), as well as tau proteins, MAP1, and MAP2.^[1]

The neural cell adhesion molecule N-CAM simultaneously combines with another N-CAM and a fibroblast growth factor receptor to stimulate the tyrosine kinase activity of that receptor to induce the growth of neurites.

Stimulation of the shaft always results in growth of the extension.

See also

• Lewy neurites

References

1. ^ Bear, Mark F; Connors, Barry W.; Paradiso, Michael A., Neuroscience, Exploring the Brain, Philadelphia : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Third Edition (February 1, 2006). ISBN 0-7817-6003-8

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