Neuron Structure

structural and functional components to a neuron

Cell body (soma)

• IN GREEN

• brain of the neuron

• where stuff gets manufactured 

Axon hillock (process of cell body - soma)

FUNCTION = site of depolarization, very important

Axon (process of cell body - soma)

FUNCTION = motor aspect (carries out motor responses)

• takes info received from dendrites and delivers a motor output

  • food is hot = pull finger away

Dendrites (process of cell body - soma)

A

• like tree branches 

• provides sensory info that travels to the cell body, then subsequently to/through the axon

Myelin Sheath

D

FUNCTION - an insulator to the neuron that surrounds the axon

• made up of fat 

Nodes of Ranvier

E

• gap b/t each myelin sheath 

• allows ions to enter the neuron

• helps with process of communication 

Synaptic knobs

F

• the knobs located at the tips/end of the axon terminal

• neurotransmitters are released from them causing a resulting response from connected neuron 

• connects to the dendrites of the next neuron 

Axon terminal

IN GREEN 

• the branches extended out of the terminal/end of a neuron 

• connects to the dendrites of next neuron 

• synaptic knobs are on the axon terminal 

Axoaxonic

• both axon terminals connecting 

Axodendritic

• axon terminal connecting to the dendrites of next neuron

Nucleus

IN GREEN

• orb located in the center of the cell body 

Synapse / Synapses

• communication that occurs when the axon terminal of one neuron meets the dendrites of the next neuron = chemicals are released

• there is a SPACE there/ no physical touching  

neurons 

• responsible for the electrical signaling in the nervous system, communication!!