Parts of a Neuron

Axon

Neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

Dendrites

Receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body

Soma

The cell body of a neuron, which contains the nucleus and various other organelles

Terminal buttons

the small knobs at the end of an axon that release chemicals called neurotransmitters

Myelin Sheath

A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons: enables vastly greater transmissions speed as a neural impulses hop from one node to another

Terminal branches

change electrical impulses or action potentials within a neuron into chemical messages in the form of neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons.

Synaptic Cleft

The junction between the axon top of the body sending neurons. Neurons and the send true or cell body of the receiving neuron.