Axons and the role as shock absorbers

• Scientists from Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology have found out that spectrin, which are flexible rod-shaped molecules present in axons, act as ‘shock absorbers’ to protect axons from stretch-induced damage.

About:

• The study can help in understanding and treatment of concussion from head injuries as well as stretch-induced nerve injuries.

• Axons are long tubular extensions of nerve cells that transmit electrical signals across long distances and can be up to a meter long in the case of humans.

• At such lengths, they are subjected to large stretch deformations during limb or other bodily movements. Axons in the brain too undergo significant deformations, even during normal activities like jumping.

Axons vs Dendrite:

• An axon is one of two types of cytoplasmic protrusions from the cell body of a neuron; the other type is a dendrite.

• Axons are distinguished from dendrites by several features, including

• shape (dendrites often taper while axons usually maintain a constant radius),

• length (dendrites are restricted to a small region around the cell body while axons can be much longer), and

• function (dendrites receive signals whereas axons transmit them).