Let's first define what a neuron actually is.
Neurons are specialized cells that form interconnected networks that convey information throughout the body in the form of electrical and chemical signals.
It is composed of several different components.
First we have the cell body in which you find the nucleus. The nucleus can be seen as the main machinery of the neuron. In it it has for example mitochondria which provide fuel for the cell, and various other components that allow the neuron to function properly as a cell.
Now let's discuss the other components of a neuron
Dendrites can be seen as the ears of the neuron as they take in data.
The cell body that takes the data dendrites have 'heard' and processes it, deciding weather or not to send out the information further. Just like your brain takes information out of the world around you then decides what to do with it. To actually send the information further the neuron uses something called an "axon".
An axon is a fibre which has the function f taking information out of the cell body and into another cell. Basically if the dendrite is the 'ear' of the neuron, the axon is the mouth of the neuron.
An axon is covered in a Myelin Sheath which is composed of Schwann Cells.
This fatty coathing serves a very practical purpose. It speeds up the transmission of action potentials going up the axon
In between each Schwan Cell there are nodes called Nodes Of Ranvier. In these areas, the axon is exposed to the surrounding environment and proteins embedded in the plasma membrane can produce action potentials Thus, when action potentials travel down a myelinated axon, they appear to jump from node to node. This process is called saltatory conduction and it is sued to transfer information quickly, asuch as to and from the skeletal muscles
The communication between neurons can have two forms.
Actionapotential - an electrical signal along the neuron and or membrane.
Neurotransmitter- an chemical signal between a neuron and another cell
Generally an action potential travels across an axon until it reaches a synapse, a gap between axon and a dendrite of another cell. The action potential in the axon stimulates the release of neurotransmitters into the synapse.
So basically our neurons communicate with each other either chemically (through neurotransmitters) or electrically (through changes in action potentials)
Many chemicals such as caffeine or cocaine actually emulate the behavior of neurotransmitters. Both cocaine and coffee do that.
So the term "Neuron" referes to this single cell which we have now discussed in depth hile in turn the term 'nerve' refers to bundles of specific, long, thin structures of neurons called axons that are located together.
Neurons are specialized cells that form interconnected networks that convey information throughout the body in the form of electrical and chemical signals.
It is composed of several different components.
First we have the cell body in which you find the nucleus. The nucleus can be seen as the main machinery of the neuron. In it it has for example mitochondria which provide fuel for the cell, and various other components that allow the neuron to function properly as a cell.
Now let's discuss the other components of a neuron
Dendrites can be seen as the ears of the neuron as they take in data.
The cell body that takes the data dendrites have 'heard' and processes it, deciding weather or not to send out the information further. Just like your brain takes information out of the world around you then decides what to do with it. To actually send the information further the neuron uses something called an "axon".
An axon is a fibre which has the function f taking information out of the cell body and into another cell. Basically if the dendrite is the 'ear' of the neuron, the axon is the mouth of the neuron.
An axon is covered in a Myelin Sheath which is composed of Schwann Cells.
This fatty coathing serves a very practical purpose. It speeds up the transmission of action potentials going up the axon
In between each Schwan Cell there are nodes called Nodes Of Ranvier. In these areas, the axon is exposed to the surrounding environment and proteins embedded in the plasma membrane can produce action potentials Thus, when action potentials travel down a myelinated axon, they appear to jump from node to node. This process is called saltatory conduction and it is sued to transfer information quickly, asuch as to and from the skeletal muscles
The communication between neurons can have two forms.
Actionapotential - an electrical signal along the neuron and or membrane.
Neurotransmitter- an chemical signal between a neuron and another cell
Generally an action potential travels across an axon until it reaches a synapse, a gap between axon and a dendrite of another cell. The action potential in the axon stimulates the release of neurotransmitters into the synapse.
So basically our neurons communicate with each other either chemically (through neurotransmitters) or electrically (through changes in action potentials)
Many chemicals such as caffeine or cocaine actually emulate the behavior of neurotransmitters. Both cocaine and coffee do that.
So the term "Neuron" referes to this single cell which we have now discussed in depth hile in turn the term 'nerve' refers to bundles of specific, long, thin structures of neurons called axons that are located together.
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