Differences between axons and dendrites

S.N	Axons	Dendrites
1.	They take message away from the cell body.	They bring information to the cell body.
2.	They have smooth surface.	They have rough surface due to dendritic spines.
3.	Generally there is one axon per cell.	Usually many dendrites per cell.
4.	Nissl’s granules are absent .	Nissl’s granules are present
5.	They can be myelinated or non-myelinated.	They are always non myelinated.
6.	Ribosomes are absent.	Ribosomes are present.
7.	Branch further from the cell body.	Branch near the cell body.
8.	Arises from a conical projection called axon hillock.	Arises directly from the nerve cell.
9.	Form the efferent component of the nerve impulse.	Form the afferent component of the nerve impulse.
10.	Tips of the terminal branches are enlarged to form synaptic knob.	No synaptic knobs occur at the tips of the branches.
11.	They are branched at their tips.	They are branched all along.
12.	They have a uniform diameter.	Diameter decreases continuously due to tapering ends.
13.	They are very long.	They are very short.

Image source: wikipedia

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