Neurons ( area 1 / 3.8 ) Flashcards
Approx how many..
neurons and synapses
in a piece of brain tissue?
-Brain tissue, the size of a grain of sand
- has 100,000 neurons
- 1 billion synapses
Brief role of the neuron?
- Primary functional unit of the nervous system
- has role of glial cells in supporting neuronal function
Key parts os a neuron?
- Dendrites
- Axon
- Myelin
- Axon terminals
- Glial cells
WHAT is a neuron?
- Is an individual nerve cell.
- The building blocks of the nervous system.
WHAT do neuron form?
They form neural pathways ( complex chains which transmit information. )
What in the info that is transmit called?
- Action potential
- Neural impulse
ARE ALL neurons the same?
They are specialised, and have different functions depending on where they are in the body.
What do ALL neurons have in common?
- Longest lived cells in the body
- Irreplaceable: amitotic ( lose ability to divide )
- Huge appetites - steady supply of glucose and oxygen
Three main components of neuron structure?
- Dendrites
- Soma
- Axon
Dendrites:
LOOK
FUNCTION
- Bushy branch
- LISTENER -
receives chemical information from previous neurons - One neuron can have lots of dendritic connections
Soma: Cell body
LOOK
FUNCTION
Has all cell materials; nucleus, mitochondria etc
- Is like the brain of the central nervous system, gives info to axon
Axon:
LOOK
FUNCTION
Single tube shape
-TALKER- gossip
Passes info other cells.
Most neurons only have one, but axon can branch to allow communication to multiple cells.
transmit electrical impluses away from the cell body to other cells.
Axon terminals:
LOOK
FUNCTION
Small branches end of axons
Has swelling in its tip, synaptic button which keeps special chemical called neurotransmitter ( transmit info between cell. )
Myelin:
LOOK
FUNCTION
Most neuron axons coated with it.
Fatty insulator for the axon,, keeps it to avoid unnecessary signals
What the bumps on axon allow to do?
Lumps signals can jump across lumps.