Image: NIH Publication No. 97-4038. Printed 1997 Adapted from photo by Paul Letourneau, University of Minnesota.

Nerve Cells

Nerve cells develop cytoskeletal “hands” called growth cones, which creep forward to form communication junctions with neighboring neurons. The cones have finger-like structures, called filopodia, made of actin bundles. Between the filopodia are lamellipodia—flat regions of dense actin mesh. During movement, the filopodia and lamellipodia extend and retract via the addition and removal of actin.