Neuron Parts

Soma

The main part of the neuron that contains the nucleus and other organelles; it processes information and keeps the cell alive.

Dendrites

Branch-like extensions from the soma that receive signals from other neurons and carry them toward the cell body.

Axon

A long fiber that carries electrical impulses (action potentials) away from the cell body to other neurons or muscles.

Axon hillock

The cone-shaped region between the soma and the axon; it’s where the nerve impulse (action potential) is generated.

Myelin sheath

A fatty layer that wraps around the axon, insulating it and speeding up the transmission of nerve impulses.

Schwann cell

A type of glial cell in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that forms the myelin sheath around axons.

Node of Ranvier

Gaps between myelin sheath segments along the axon; they allow the nerve impulse to jump from node to node (saltatory conduction), speeding up transmission.

Synaptic terminal

The end of an axon that releases neurotransmitters to send signals across a synapse to another neuron or muscle cell.

Nissl bodies

Clusters of rough endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes in the soma; they make proteins essential for neuron function and repair.

Neuroglia

Support cells in the nervous system that protect, nourish, and insulate neurons. They don’t carry electrical impulses but are vital for neuron health and function.

Oligodendrocytes

A type of glial cell in the central nervous system (CNS) that forms the myelin sheath around multiple axons at once.

Multipolar neurons

The most common type of neuron; they have one axon and many dendrites, allowing them to integrate a lot of information from other neurons.