Telodendron

Schematic structure of a nerve cell - the branches from neurite or axon to presynaptic endings on the target cells are called telodendrons (in the picture below)

A telodendron (from ancient Greek τέλος telos 'end, goal' and δένδρον dendron 'tree'), German terminal tree or terminal tree , is understood in nerve cells (neurons) as the finest branching end section of their neurites or axons .

Branches from the collateral axon of a motor neuron to motor end plates on a muscle fiber

Which is neurite a neuron excitation forwarded and at a synapse on another cell transfer . A neurite often forms numerous synapses with several other nerve cells or, at neuromuscular synapses , also with muscle cells . For this purpose, a neurite or axon can give off side branches, called collaterals , which sometimes branch out at the terminal like a tree to form a telodendron .

Telodendrons can be multiform, have numerous presynaptic endings , and end at different target cells. These endings, also called axon terminals , end buttons or boutons , each represent the presynaptic part of a synapse . The end trees of a nerve cell are often linked to several other nerve cells or to effectors , possibly multiple times.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Benninghoff: Macroscopic and microscopic anatomy of humans, Vol. 3. Nervous system, skin and sensory organs . Urban and Schwarzenberg, Munich 1985, ISBN 3-541-00264-6 , p. 4.
2. ↑ Martin Trepel: Neuroanatomy: Structure and Function. Elsevier Urban & Fischer, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-437-41298-1 , p. 4.