Neuron Structure and Function

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Neuron Structure and Function
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Nervous System

• Nervous system is composed of specialized cells
  called neurons.
• Neurons have long arms called axons and
  dendrites.
• Axons carry impulses away from cell body.
• Dendrites carry impulses to the cell body

• Connections between axons and dendrites forms our
  intelligence.

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Central Nervous system

• contains the brain spinal cord.

Cell bodies, axons, dendrites in the human
brain.
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Peripheral Nervous system (PNS)

• contains all nerves leading to and from the
  Central Nervous System
• Sensory receptors Nerves that carry impulses
  towards CNS
• Detect light, pressure and heat.

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Motor neurons

• Nerves that carry impulses from the CNS to
  muscles or glands.

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Neuron Structure

• Impulses are referred to as action potentials.
• Dendrites receive action potentials from other
  neurons.
• Axons carry action potentials to other neurons.
• Dendrites take action potential to cell body,
  axons away from cell body.

Axons
Cell bodies of neurons
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myelin sheath

• Serves to insulate axons dendrites and
  therefore speed up the action potential.

• The myelin sheath is made up of Schwann cells.

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Nodes of Ranvier

• The gaps between Schwann cells are called the
  Nodes of Ranvier.
• The action potential jumps from Node of Ranvier
  to Node of Ranvier.