Nerve

Nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system. Afferent nerves convey sensory signals to the brain, for example from skin or organs, while efferent nerves conduct stimulatory signals from the brain to the muscles and glands.

Related Topics:
Peripheral nervous system - Afferent nerve - Sensory - Brain - Efferent nerve - Muscle - Gland

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These signals, sometimes called nerve impulses, are also known as action potentials: rapidly traveling electrical waves, which begin typically in the cell body of a neuron and propagate rapidly down the axon to its tip or "terminus."

Related Topics:
Action potential - Neuron

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The signals cross over from the terminus to the adjacent neuron through a gap called the synapse.

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