Components of a neuron

• • Dendrites - dendrites receive impulses from sensory receptors of other neurons and transmit the information toward the cell body 
• A cell body - the cell body contains many cell organelles, including a nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria 
• Axons - axons are long extensions of the nerve cell (neuron), necessary to transmit information to another cell of an effector. Whilst axons are microscopic, they may be very long; in some animals they may be several metres long. At the end of the axons are axon branches that have tiny swellings at their ends that release neurotransmitter chemicals which transmit information between neurons or between a neuron and, for example, a muscle cell.
• The three different types of neurons have different functions and slightly different structures 
• • A sensory neuron has a cell body joined by two long processes; the dendron and the axon. The extension of the dendrons, called dendrites, act as receptors and transmit information towards the cell body
• Interneurons have only short axons as they enable connections between a sensory neurons and a motor neuron 
• Motor neurons have short dendrites and one long axon 
• Neurons transmit messages to specific destinations in the form of electrochemical impulses
• The process involves changing concentration gradients of sodium (NA+) and potassium (K+) ions
• This requires the movement across cell membranes through facilitated diffusion and active transport
• Some axons have a fatty covering called a myelin sheath which is formed by Schwann cells that wrap around the axons
• Nerve impulses travel faster along neurons that have the sheath as the impulse jump from node to node