Parts of a Neuron
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Parts of a Neuron
Neurons are the fundamental unit of the brain and nervous system. Neurons can also be defined as brain cells responsible for sending and receiving signals in the brain. They are information messengers (The University of Queensland, 2019). Neurons use chemical signals and electrical impulses to transmit information in the brain. Dendrite is the receiving part of the neuron. It receives synaptic inputs from the axon, that determine whether the neuron will fire an action. The nucleus of a neuron of an oval-shaped membrane-bound structure in the soma of the neuron. It contains genetic materials in the form of chromosomes (Clair, 2021). The main part or portion of the neuron is called soma or body cell. It consists of the nucleus, which in turn contains genetic materials.
Myelin sheath is a series of fatty cells which are wrapped around the axon. It allows electric impulses to transmit efficiently and quickly around the nerve. It is wrapped around the axon in a spiral fashion (Clair, 2021). The axon arises from the cell body at a region referred to as the axon hillock or the initial segment; the region where the plasma membrane generates verve impulses. The purpose of the axon is to transmit electrochemical signals to other neurons. The Axons transmits these signals away from the initial segment to other neurons (The University of Queensland, 2019). An axon terminal is any of the button-like endings of axons through which they make synaptic contacts with other nerve cells or with effector cells. The axon terminal is somewhat engorged and club or button-shaped. These are fundamental parts of a neuron that enables the brain to effectively coordinate body functions.
Reference
Clair, B. (2021). Explainer: What is a neuron?. https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/explainer-what-is-a-neuron
The University of Queensland. (2019). What is a neuron?. https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/what-neuron