Axon Gallery

Nerve synapse, TEM

Nerve synapse. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of the neuron (nerve) terminal at a synapse in the diaphragm. A synapse is a gap between a nerve and another cell (in this case, muscle) that allows the transmission of nerve impulses. A nerve ending in a terminal bouton (red) will contain vesicles (blue dots) of neurotransmitter chemicals. During the transmission of an impulse, the vesicles release the neurotransmitter into the gap, which is taken up by receptors on the other side. This leads to the formation of an impulse in the second cell, and so the information is passed on. When a muscle cell is receiving an impulse, calcium is also released, which causes a muscle contraction

© STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Myelination of nerve fibres, TEM

Myelination of nerve fibres. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of Schwann cells (red, with blue nuclei) insulating nerve fibres (axons, orange) with a myelin sheath. The axons are seen in cross-section. Myelin (not seen) is an insulating fatty layer that surrounds axons, increasing the speed at which nerve impulses travel. It is formed when Schwann cells wrap around the fibre, depositing layers of myelin between each coil

© THOMAS DEERINCK, NCMIR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Microscopic view of a bipolar neuron

Microscopic view of a bipolar neuron. A bipolar cell is a type of neuron which has two extensions. Bipolar cells are specialized sensory neurons for the transmission of special senses

© Stocktrek Images

Abstract, Artwork, Axon, Biomedical Illustrations, Bipolar, Bipolar Cells, Bipolar Neurons, Cell, Cell Biology, Central Nervous System, Chemical, Chemical Synapses, Close Up, Color Image, Communication, Connection, Cytology, Dendrite, Detail, Digitally Generated Image, Electricity, Healthcare, Horizontal, Human Body, Illustration, Impulse, Information, Magnification, Medical, Medicine, Microbiology, Microscopic, Multipolar Neurons, Nerve Cells, Nervous System, Network, Neuron, No People, Pink, Process, Sensory Neurons, Signaling, Synapse, Three Dimensional, Transmitting, Yellow