Final answer:
Axons branch into axon terminals that have bulbs, also known as synaptic vesicles, at the terminal ends which release neurotransmitters to communicate signals to other cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Axons branch into axon terminals, which have bulbs located at the terminal ends.
The process of signal transmission in a neuron typically begins with the reception of a signal by the neuron's dendrites, which then passively travel to the soma, or cell body. This signal reaches the axon hillock where it is integrated with signals from multiple synapses. Following this integration, the signal is transmitted down the axon to the axon terminals. Axon terminals house specialized structures known as synaptic vesicles, which contain neurotransmitters. When the electrical impulse reaches these terminals, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, thereby communicating the signal to the next neuron or target tissue.
Along the axon, there are sections insulated by myelin sheath produced by glial cells. This sheath acts as an insulator, similar to plastic on electrical wires, minimizing signal dissipation and increasing conduction speed. The nodes of Ranvier are gaps in the myelin sheath that serve as sites where the electrical signal is strengthened or 'recharged' as it travels down the axon.