Final answer:
The axon hillock is where action potentials originate, integrating multiple signals from synapses, and the axon terminal is where neurotransmitters are released to communicate with other cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Axon Hillock and Axon Terminal
The axon hillock is a specialized structure within a neuron that serves as the transition from the neuron's cell body to the axon fiber. It is here that the cytoplasm changes into a substance known as axoplasm, representing the initial segment of the axon. The axon hillock is crucial because it integrates multiple signals from various synapses before initiating an action potential that travels down the axon.
Action potentials originate at the axon hillock. These are the electrical signals that neurons use to communicate. Once generated, the action potential travels along the axon, a tube-like structure insulated by myelin, to specialized endings called axon terminals. Axon terminals are the sites where neurotransmitters are released onto the dendrites of another neuron, muscle, or target organ, thereby transferring the signal to the next cell.