parts of a neuron

• Neuron


  A nerve cell and the primary functional unit of the nervous system
• Neuron


  • Dendrites - area where neurons receive most of their information
  • Soma (cell body) - contains the nucleus and puts together information from the dendrites
  • Axon - transmits the signal as an action potential
  • Axon terminals (synaptic buttons) - release neurotransmitters to interact with the next neuron
• Myelin


  Insulating material that covers the axon and helps prevent signal degradation
• Neurotransmitter


  Chemicals released from axon terminals that interact with receptors on the next neuron's dendrites
• dendrites

  recieves impulses from receptors
• axon terminals


  passes impulses to other neurons
• cell body


  contains the nucleus
• myelin sheath


  speeds up impulses by insulating the neuron
• axon


  carries impulse away from the cell body
• neurons

  sensory, relay, motor
• neuron transmission steps

  • An electrical nerve impulse travels along the axon
  • nerve impulse reaches the dendrites and neurotransmitters are released
  • neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse
  • neurotransmitters bind with the receptors on the second neuron