What is a neuron?
A neuron is a cell that transmits nerve impulses. In simpler words, it is a nerve cell.
What is a neuron’s structure?
The neuron structure consists of many specialized parts, such as the dendrites, cell body, axon, myelin sheath, and terminal buttons.
Dendrites: Take information into the cell body.
Cell Body: The nucleus containing part of the neuron.
Axon: Transmits information to different neurons, muscles or glands.
Myelin sheath: insulating covering surrounding the axon. Speeds up the time for a neuron to traverse the axon.
Terminal buttons: release neurotransmitters.
Types of neurons:
The motor neuron is the output. The neuron that conducts an impulse or movement.
The sensory neuron is the imput. The neuron that transmits messages and information from a sense organ to the central nervous system.
The interneuron is the middleman. This neuron transmits information between the motor neuron and the sensory neuron.
Action potential:
Temporary shifts from positive to negative, when ions flow in and out of the neuron. During the resting potential positive sodium ions are on the outside and the positive potassium ions are on the inside. After resting potential, depolarization occurs. Depolarization is when sodium ions starts to enter through gates, however, only sodium can enter. Repolarization is the next to happen. During this stage the potassium gates open letting the positive potassiums repel from the positive sodiums and move to the outside. The final stage is the recovery period. The recovery period is when the sodiums (which are now on the inside) and the potassiums (that are now on the outside), swap places, to return to it’s resting potential. It is important to return to the resting potential so that this cycle is able to restart.
Synapse structure:
The function of the synapse is to transfer information from one cell to another. The information can be received as excitatory or inhibitory. Excitatory stimulates the action potential on the receiving neuron. Where as, inhibitory message represses action potential on the receiving neuron. There are two types of neurotransmitter disruptors; agonists and antagonists. The agonists mimic the NT and cause effects such as increasing the heart rate. The antagonists block the NT from connecting to the receptor, which causes the paralysis of muscles.