3 ms·
Some back of the envelope math says this is true. A conservative estimate for the size of an alpha motor neuron axon is 10μm diameter and 1m long, which already
by hatthew 4mo ago
Some back of the envelope math says this is true. A conservative estimate for the size of an alpha motor neuron axon is 10μm diameter and 1m long, which already puts it over an order of magnitude larger than the 4,000,000µm³ oocyte quoted in the article.
- NoMoreNicksLeft 4mo agoThis almost feels like cheating. Why not count hair follicles with hair attached then?
- mbauman 4mo agoThat's very different; hair doesn't perform membrane transport along its length. The surface of an axon is critical to the cell's functioning. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axolemma https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axolemma
- hatthew 4mo agoIn addition to what mbauman said, hair follicles and the hair itself are not single-cell. I can't immediately find the composition and average cell size, but even a long and thick strand of hair is less than 2 orders of magnitude larger than the largest neurons. I doubt any individual hair cell is very large.
- gus_massa 4mo agoI agree, except the Squid Gian Axon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_giant_axon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_giant_axon that can "1mm diameter and almost 1m long" https://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/using-animals-in-scientific-research/animal-research-species/squid https://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/using-animals...
- deleted 4mo ago[deleted]