parts of the neuron

parts of the neuron - dendrites

- fine branches that detect incoming messages from neighbouring neurons & send them to the soma

parts of the neuron - soma

• the cell body containing the nucleus. It determines whether the neuron will send messages to other neurons.

• This is called action potential

parts of the neuron - myelin sheath

• white, fatty coating surrounding the axon of many neurons, providing insolation & enhances speed of messages

parts of the neuron - nodes of ranvier

• gaps in the myelin that enable the signal to carry down the axon

parts of the neuron - axon

• a tube that extends from the soma to the end of the neuron. Info (the action potential) is transmitted along the axon as a neural response

parts of the neuron - axon terminal

• ends of the axon

• contain vesicles or sacs of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters that enable the message to pass to the next neuron

parts of the neuron - synapse

• the space where two neurons communicate

parts of the neuron - synaptic gap

• gap between 2 neurons

neurotransmitters

• chemical messengers

• each has a unique molecular structure

• they are released from the axon terminal buttons

• they bind with receptor sites on the dendrites of the next neuron, if it has a corresponding shape

• like a lock and a key

• they enable synaptic transmission

synaptic transmission

• area where 2 neurons communicated = synapse

• → gap btwn = synaptic gap

• neurotransmitters cross synaptic gap to enable communication between neurons

• neurotransmitters bind with special receptor sites on dendrites of neurons

→ they can either excite neuron or inhibit the neuron

• when neurotransmitter excites neuron, its more likely to have an action potential & pass the signal along

• when neurotransmitters inhibit neuron → less likely to have an action potential & block signal from being carried on