NEURONS

Question 1

NEURON?

Answer 1

• an individual nerve cell
• NS is comprised of neurons organized into complex chains and networks
• carry information in the form of action potential to the NS to interpret and respond

Question 2

DENDRITE?

Answer 2

• a dendrite is a thin extension of the neuron that receives information from other neurons and transmits to the soma.

Question 3

SOMA?

Answer 3

• cell body
• combines information received from the many dendrites and sends it to the axon

Question 4

AXON?

Answer 4

• tubelike extension that transmits neural information away from the soma to other neurons or cells.

Question 5

AXON TERMINAL?

Answer 5

• small branch at the end of the axon
• carries its message to other neurons or cells.

Question 6

MYELIN (MYELIN SHEATH)?

Answer 6

• white, fatty substance that coats and helps insulate the axon
• allows the electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently long the nerve cells.

Question 7

SYNAPSE?

Answer 7

• neurons never touch - there is a tiny gap between the terminal and dendrite (called synaptic gap)
• synaptic gap is where communications occur