Types of Neurons

multipolar neuron

a nerve cell that has many dendrites and a single axon

• found everywhere in the body

bipolar neuron

a nerve cell that has a single dendrite at one end and a single axon at another end

• found in the retina

unipolar neurons

have a single extension, usually thought of as an axon, that branches in two directions after leaving the cell body

• somatosensory system

• transmit touch information from the body into the spinal cord

sensory neurons

converts information from external stimuli to electrical info; carry messages from the periphery back to the spinal cord and brain

• ex. photoreceptors (rods and cones); olfactory receptor cell

motor neurons

neurons that help you move certain parts of your body

• neuromuscular junction

interneurons

in between two more prominent neurons; transmits info between them

detector neurons

detects information from inside the body

• ex. glucoreceptors (detect levels of blood sugar and sends info to brain, tells brain we’re hungry)

integrator neurons

collects information from multiple locations and decides what to do with it

• ex. neurons in the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO)

astrocytes

star-shaped glial cell with numerous extensions that run in all directions; provide structural support, store nutrients to provide energy for neurons

microglial cells

extremely small cells that remove cellular debris fro, injured or dead cells; perform phagocytosis, provide immune system function

schwann cells

the glial cells that form myelin on a single axon in the peripheral nervous system

oligodendrocyte

glial cells that form myelin on multiple axons in the central nervous system