Neuron Structure
Why is it necessary to study and know about the neuron structure? Neurons constitute the basic unit of the nervous system, in the manner of atoms that act as the building block for each item of the material world.
Whenever a body organ and the brain needs to communicate with each other, the information is transmitted and received with the help of neurons. If one wants to understand how this communication network in human beings work, one has to know about their structure and types. They are the cells of the nervous system and come together to make the nervous tissues of the brain, the spinal cord and the rest of the nerves of the nervous system. These also form all types of nerves leading to and from these organs and help in giving meaning to our senses. These cells, in addition, act as processing units of the brain.
Structure of Neuron
A neuron cell can be differentiated into three parts: cell body, an axon and dendrites. Its cell body, like any other body cells, have nucleus, cytoplasm, Golgi body and other organs necessary for the normal functioning. However, they mainly differ with the other body cells in a membrane that can communicate with the other human body cells which are referred to as animal cells.
Axon: An axon is a projection from the cell body and it is a few millimeters to one meter in length. It is covered with the myelin sheath and is responsible for conducting the messages from its cell body to other neurons and body cells such as muscles (connective tissue).
Dendrite: Dendrites is a short protrusion from the cell body of the neuron whose task is to carry messages from the other neurons and human body cells to its own cell body where it is processed or transmitted to the next one in the network.
There are three types of neurons: sensory (afferent), motor (efferent) and interneurons. They have the ability of communicating with other cells using chemicals or electrical discharge. Information is exchanged at a junction, called synapse, with the help of neurotransmitters. It is a place where single or multiple neurons and a muscle meet to exchange information. Axon of one of them transfers information from its cell body to the dendrites of the other which in turn carries it to its cell body. However, when it comes to the communication between sensory and motor neurons, it is the interneuron that acts as the postman and relays the messages.
Classification
Not all of them are same in structure. If one goes by their structure, they can be differentiated as follows: The main characteristic used in separating one type from the other is how many protrusions or processes (axon and dendrites) extend from a neuron's cell body.
Unipolar Neurons: In these type, a single protrusion extends from the cell bodies and divide into two branches very close to it. These branches act as the axon and the dendrite for these neurons. A unipolar neuron describes the sensory structure, and function of it is to carry messages from the sense organs of the body to the nervous system, and are acted upon by the brain.
Bipolar Neurons: These are characterized by the presence of a dendrite and an axon protruding directly from the cell body.
Multipolar Neurons: The cell body of these neurons, as the name suggests, have many protrusions. One of these act as an axon and the rest act as dendrites. A multipolar neuron describes the motor neuron structure, and function of it is to carry messages from the central nervous system to the muscles which convert it into an action.
Isn't the human body a mystery? The brain alone, contains 100 billion cells, in addition to the different kinds of cells in the human body. It is considered as the seat of thought and is the master of the human body and actions. It registers all the emotions, bodily pains felt by an individual and is still a sacred and secret place. It stores them, and if needed recalls them too. If one wants to know more about this hiding place, one has no option but to learn histology of nervous tissue to understand neurons and their functions.
Structure of Neuron
A neuron cell can be differentiated into three parts: cell body, an axon and dendrites. Its cell body, like any other body cells, have nucleus, cytoplasm, Golgi body and other organs necessary for the normal functioning. However, they mainly differ with the other body cells in a membrane that can communicate with the other human body cells which are referred to as animal cells.
Axon: An axon is a projection from the cell body and it is a few millimeters to one meter in length. It is covered with the myelin sheath and is responsible for conducting the messages from its cell body to other neurons and body cells such as muscles (connective tissue).
Dendrite: Dendrites is a short protrusion from the cell body of the neuron whose task is to carry messages from the other neurons and human body cells to its own cell body where it is processed or transmitted to the next one in the network.
There are three types of neurons: sensory (afferent), motor (efferent) and interneurons. They have the ability of communicating with other cells using chemicals or electrical discharge. Information is exchanged at a junction, called synapse, with the help of neurotransmitters. It is a place where single or multiple neurons and a muscle meet to exchange information. Axon of one of them transfers information from its cell body to the dendrites of the other which in turn carries it to its cell body. However, when it comes to the communication between sensory and motor neurons, it is the interneuron that acts as the postman and relays the messages.
Classification
Not all of them are same in structure. If one goes by their structure, they can be differentiated as follows: The main characteristic used in separating one type from the other is how many protrusions or processes (axon and dendrites) extend from a neuron's cell body.
Unipolar Neurons: In these type, a single protrusion extends from the cell bodies and divide into two branches very close to it. These branches act as the axon and the dendrite for these neurons. A unipolar neuron describes the sensory structure, and function of it is to carry messages from the sense organs of the body to the nervous system, and are acted upon by the brain.
Bipolar Neurons: These are characterized by the presence of a dendrite and an axon protruding directly from the cell body.
Multipolar Neurons: The cell body of these neurons, as the name suggests, have many protrusions. One of these act as an axon and the rest act as dendrites. A multipolar neuron describes the motor neuron structure, and function of it is to carry messages from the central nervous system to the muscles which convert it into an action.
Isn't the human body a mystery? The brain alone, contains 100 billion cells, in addition to the different kinds of cells in the human body. It is considered as the seat of thought and is the master of the human body and actions. It registers all the emotions, bodily pains felt by an individual and is still a sacred and secret place. It stores them, and if needed recalls them too. If one wants to know more about this hiding place, one has no option but to learn histology of nervous tissue to understand neurons and their functions.
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