Biology · Neural Control and Coordination · NEET
The axon carries the impulse AWAY from the cell body towards the next neuron, muscle or gland. Dendrites do the opposite: they receive the impulse and bring it TOWARDS the cell body. This direction is fixed in NCERT and is the most tested point.
A neuron usually has MANY short dendrites but only ONE axon. The single axon may be short or very long. NEET often frames a wrong option saying 'many axons' or 'one dendrite', so remember: many dendrites, one axon.
Dendrites contain Nissl's granules (like the cell body). The axon does NOT contain Nissl's granules. This is a classic difference: the cyton and dendrites have Nissl bodies, the axon does not.
Yes, in many neurons the axon can be covered by a myelin sheath (made by Schwann cells) which speeds up the impulse. Dendrites are not myelinated. So myelin sheath and Nodes of Ranvier belong to the axon, not the dendrites.
A dendron is a thicker branch of the cell body, and dendrites are the finer branches that come off the dendron. Functionally both bring the impulse towards the cell body, so NEET treats them as the receiving side of the neuron.
The axon ends in fine branches, each tipped with a swollen synaptic knob (bouton). These knobs contain synaptic vesicles with neurotransmitters and form a synapse with the next cell. Dendrites do not end in synaptic knobs; they receive the neurotransmitter.
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
Dendrites carry the nerve impulse towards the cell body (receiving), while the axon carries the impulse away from the cell body (transmitting) to the next cell.
Dendrites and the cell body (cyton) contain Nissl granules. The axon does not contain Nissl granules.
Yes. The axon may be covered by a myelin sheath made by Schwann cells, with Nodes of Ranvier in between. Dendrites are not myelinated.
A neuron has only one axon, though it may branch at its end. In contrast, it has many dendrites.
The axon tip ends in synaptic knobs containing synaptic vesicles with neurotransmitters, which release chemicals across the synapse to the next neuron.
