Final answer:
A nerve is a bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system that transmits action potentials and communicates with other cells via synapses using neurotransmitters like acetylcholine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes a bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system is a nerve.
Axons are the elongated fibers of neurons that transmit electrical impulses, known as action potentials, to other cells within the nervous system. When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it prompts the release of neurotransmitter molecules into the synaptic cleft, stimulating a response in the next cell. This interaction occurs at a structure called a synapse. In the peripheral nervous system, which includes all neural structures outside the brain and spinal cord, axons are bundled together to form nerves.
These nerves facilitate the communication between the central nervous system and the rest of the body, transmitting sensory and motor signals. The central nervous system is comprised of the brain and spinal cord, where axon bundles are referred to as tracts. Neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, play a critical role in converting the electrical signal of an axon into a chemical signal that crosses the synapse to activate or inhibit the function of another neuron or effector organ like skeletal muscle.