In: Anatomy and Physiology
Axon Hillock has the largest concentration of sodium channels in a neuron. It is specialised part of the cell body of neuron and connects to axon.
When neurotransmitters from the presynaptic neuron bind to dendrites of post synaptic neuron, ligand gated sodium channel opens. It causes influx of sodium and thus the depolarization. However, it may decrease exponentially with distance and time when passing through axon. Now If many such depolarization reaches postsynaptic neuron in short time, then it leads to opening of voltage gated sodium channels which helps in generation of action potential. These sodium channels are concentrated in large amount in Axon Hillock and initial segment of neuron. Thus, they have a greater role in generation of action potential. It is unidirectional transmission as previous region remains in absolute refractoriness. So it has to travel in a single direction down the axon to synaptic terminal.