The perikaryon is the cytoplasm of the cell body. The perikaryon of neurons is characterized by Nissl bodies, which are basophilic bodies composed of RER and free polyribosomes. The perikaryon contains many individual Golgi apparatuses arrayed as a ring around the nucleus. Characteristics of neuronal cell processes Dendrites are branched, tapering and irregular in shape. They are the site of many synapses, which are made onto the general dendritic surface and onto cell surface specializations called dendritic spines.
Axons are generally straight, non-branching processes of uniform diameter.
Each neuron has only one axon. The axon possesses a specialized plasma membrane domain, which is the site of self-propagated action potentials. Axons can be myelinated or non-myelinated. In the CNS, oligodendroglia provide myelin for myelinated axons. In the PNS, Schwann cells provide myelin for myelinated axons.