Nervous Tissue

Nervous tissue

Tissue that transmits electrical signals throughout the body.

Contains:

• Neurons: Carry nerve impulses.

• Glial cells: Support and protect neurons.

Functions:

• Senses stimuli

• Processes information

• Controls body responses

Neurons

Main unit in generating + transmitting electrical impulses.

Made of the cell body, dendrites, and axon

Glial

Supportive cells in nervous tissue that protect and nourish neurons

Cell body/Soma

Main part of the neuron that contain the nucleus and organelles.

Dendrites

Receive signals from other neurons.

Axon

Sends signals away to other neurons or muscles.

Axon hillock

Part of Axon: place where information is collected

Myelin sheath

Part of Axon: surrounds the axon for protection (made of Schwann cells)

Nodes of Ranvier

Part of Axon: nodes between Schwann cells

Axon terminals

Part of Axon: discharge point of information

Sensory neuron

Type of neuron: specialised to respond to a stimulus

• Detect stimuli (e.g., touch, pain, temperature) and send information to the brain/spinal cord for processing.

• Afferent neurons

Interneuron

Type of Neuron: transmit impulses between components of CNS

• Process and interpret sensory input and coordinate appropriate responses.

Motor neuron

Type of Neuron: transmits impulses away from the CNS

• Trigger muscle contraction or gland secretion as a response.

• Efferent neurons