neurons

Question 1

Recall the different components of a neuron

Answer 1

to receive information, process information (determine whether info should be passed along) and communicate information to target cells (other neurons/muscles/glands)

Question 2

Explain the purpose of the different parts of the neuron

Answer 2

The cell body (soma) controls the cells functions and produces protein for the cell. It is where the nucleus lies. Nucleus is the control Centre for a cell.

Dendrites (extension of a neuron) detects and receives information from other neurons (cells).

Axon (long extension of a neuron) that transmits action potential (neuron information. Axon carries electrical signals away from cell body.

Axons are covered by a fatty insulating layer called the myelin sheath which helps speed up (nerve impulse) signal transmission and protect neurons (the nerve).

Question 3

Explain how electrical impulse move through a neuron

Answer 3

An electrical impulse first goes to the dendrites where it detects and receives information, and then it transmit the electrical impulse to the cell body. Then the axon carries the electrical impulse away from the cell body. (double check this answer with Mr Tran)
neuron
stimulus——> dendrite—–> cell body —–> axon
electrical (nerve) impulse

electrical impulse only moves in one direction

Question 4

Differentiate between the sensory, motor and interneurons

Answer 4

Sensory neurons specialize in sending sensory information to the CNS, motor neurons specialize in sending motor information to the CNS and the interneuron serves as communication links between neurons.

Question 5

Differentiate afferent and efferent neuron

Answer 5

sensory: also known as afferent neurons
Carry impulses from sense organs to spinal cord and brain (CNS)
Receives message about a change in the external or internal environment and transmits the information to the interneuron in the CNS
E.g. Touch a hot stove - the sensory neurons in your fingertips would tell your CNS that what you touched was hot

motor: Also known as efferent neurons
Carry impulse from the CNS to muscles and glands
Carry signals from the interneuron in the CNS to the effector and causes it to respond
E.g. Touch a hot stove - the motor neurons that control the muscles in your fingertips would signal for the muscles to move the fingers away from the hot stove

in easier words: sensory: notifies the brain/CNS about what happened and motor tells your brain/CNS to react

Question 6

Explain how messages are transferred between neurons

Answer 6

neuron communication is in the form of chemical transmission at the synapse.
The gap between neurons is called a synapse
When the nerve impulse reaches the axon terminals, tiny vesicles containing chemicals called neurotransmitters are transported to the cell membrane of the neuron
These chemicals are then released into the synapse
The neurotransmitters move across the synapse and bind to receptors on the membrane of the dendrites of the next neuron
How do neurons communicate a message?
When neurons communicate, the neurotransmitters from one neuron are released, cross the synapse, and attach themselves to special molecules in the next neuron called receptors. Receptors receive and process the message, then send it on to the next neuron.

Question 7

what is a neuron?

Answer 7

an individual nerve cell