Final answer:
An axon is the part of a neuron that transmits electrical signals away from the nucleus-containing cell body to other cells, with myelin sheaths aiding in signal speed and efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Neurons are the structural and functional units of the nervous system, consisting of a cell body, dendrites, and an axon. The axon is a tube-like structure that extends from the cell body and is responsible for propagating nerve impulses to axon terminals. These terminals then synapse with other neurons or target cells, such as muscle cells. When a nerve impulse, or action potential, reaches an axon terminal, neurotransmitters are released into the synapse, potentially initiating a response in the postsynaptic cell.
Some axons are covered in a myelin sheath provided by glial cells, which insulates the electrical signal, thereby increasing the speed of its transmission. This sheathing along the axon plays a critical role in the efficient delivery of nerve impulses, especially over long distances within the body.