Neurons: The Building Blocks of the Nervous System

Neurons

Perform computations inside the brain thatwe call “thought”.

Neurons are specialized cells in the nervous system that are responsible for transmitting information throughout the body. They are the fundamental building blocks of the nervous system, and they transmit information both chemically and electrically. Neurons have several parts, including the cell body, dendrites, axon, and synapses.

The cell body of a neuron contains the nucleus, mitochondria, and other organelles that are essential for cellular function. Dendrites are branching extensions of the cell body that receive information from other neurons. The axon is a long, thin projection on the neuron that transmits electrical signals away from the cell body and towards other neurons.

Neurons communicate with one another at specialized connections called synapses. Synapses are small gaps between neurons that allow for chemical signals to be transmitted from one neuron to another. Chemicals known as neurotransmitters are released from the axon of one neuron and travel across the synapse to bind to receptors on the dendrites of another neuron, thereby transmitting information between the two.

There are many different types of neurons, each with unique structures and functions. Sensory neurons, for example, receive information from the environment and send signals to the brain, while motor neurons carry signals from the brain to the body’s muscles. Interneurons connect and communicate with other neurons within the brain and spinal cord.

Overall, the complex interactions between neurons help to control all of the body’s functions and behaviors, including movement, sensation, perception, and thought.

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