Final answer:
Branches that sometimes occur along the length of an axon are called collaterals. These allow signals to be communicated to other cells from the axon terminals. Myelin, which covers some axons, insulates and increases the speed of signal conduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Branches that sometimes occur along the length of an axon are called collaterals. An axon is a tube-like structure that propagates the signal from the cell body to specialized endings called axon terminals. These terminals in turn synapse on other neurons, muscle, or target organs, allowing signals to be communicated to these cells. While the axon may branch hundreds of times, there is never more than one axon per neuron. Additionally, some axons are covered with myelin, which acts as an insulator to minimize the dissipation of the electrical signal as it travels down the axon, greatly increasing the speed of conduction.