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 (unlike Schwann cells, which myelinate only one axon).

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.