The Nervous System

Question 1

what is the nervous system made up of?

Answer 1

• nerve cells
• supporting cells (glial cells/neuroglia)
• Blood vessels

Question 2

What are nerve cells able to do?

Answer 2

• recieve information such as signals from external or internal sources (via dendrites)
• process and integrate these signals
• conduct nerve impulses (action potentials) to other target tissues

Question 3

What are the types of neurons?

Answer 3

Conductive= transmit action potentials
secretory = communicate with other cells via chemical messages
excitable = responds to changes

Question 4

What is a neuron made up of?

Answer 4

Cell body/soma
Multiple dendrites
One axon (arising from axon hillock)
Mitochondra
Golgi, ER
microtubules and neurofilaments
Lipofuscin

Question 5

Describe Dendrites?

Answer 5

Dendrites are a part of the neuron which conduct electric signals towards the cell body
they branch profusely and connect with other nerve cells through processes such as synapses
they have a similar composition to the cell body but don’t have a golgi

Question 6

Describe the axon?

Answer 6

• can be up to 1 metre long
• conducts nerve impulses away from the body
• Lacks protein synthesis organelles, therefore proteins must be synthesised in the cell body and transported down the axon via a cytoskeleton