How do axons branching out from neurons find their targets?

Axons branching out from a neuron have a structure called a growth cone at their tips. These growth cones act as sensors for the growing axons to detect the presence of cues for elongation in the extracellular environment. They are made up of cytoplasmic extensions filopodia which contain actin filaments. read more

" Since axons may travel long distances and must search out their target from among many possibilities, the growing end of the axon, or growth cone, must have a mechanism to sense its surroundings." [3]. read more

The axon terminal spills out chemicals into the synapse in order to transmit information by chemical means from one neuron to another. The dendrites (catching hands/ input hands/ arms) of the next neuron extend very close into the same area of the synapse and “catch” the chemicals released/ thrown out by the axon at its end point which is the axon terminal. This is much like a person at a sporting event with a t shirt shooter. read more

Some types of neurons have no axon and transmit signals from their dendrites. No neuron ever has more than one axon; however in invertebrates such as insects or leeches the axon sometimes consists of several regions that function more or less independently of each other. read more