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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of dendrites in a neuron?
What is the primary function of dendrites in a neuron?
Which statement accurately describes the pathway of nerve impulse travel in neurons?
Which statement accurately describes the pathway of nerve impulse travel in neurons?
What type of neurons are primarily responsible for transmitting sensory information to the central nervous system?
What type of neurons are primarily responsible for transmitting sensory information to the central nervous system?
What is primarily found in the cell body of a neuron?
What is primarily found in the cell body of a neuron?
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Which type of neuron typically has the longest axon?
Which type of neuron typically has the longest axon?
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Study Notes
Nervous System Cells
- The nervous system involves a complex network of cells called neurons, responsible for receiving and transmitting electrical signals (nerve impulses).
- Glial cells support and maintain neurons within the system.
- The coordinated activity of billions of neurons facilitates rapid communication and control throughout the body.
Neuron Types
- Neurons are categorized into three types: sensory, interneurons, and motor neurons.
- All neuron types have a cell body, one axon, and several dendrites.
- Axons and dendrites are cytoplasmic extensions, often termed nerve fibers.
- Nerve impulses travel in a specific direction: dendrites → cell body → axon.
Dendrites
- Dendrites receive nerve impulses and transmit them toward the cell body.
- Sensory neuron dendrites form a single, elongated fiber, relaying receptor information to the cell body.
- Interneurons and motor neurons have multiple short dendrites, collecting signals from other neurons and transmitting them to their cell bodies.
Cell Body
- The nucleus and most of the cytoplasm of a neuron are housed in the cell body.
- The cell body controls the cell's metabolic processes.
- It contains clusters of ribosomes, vital for producing proteins, including neurotransmitter-producing enzymes.
- Interneuron cell bodies reside within the central nervous system.
Axon
- The axon is a single nerve fiber that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.
- Sensory and interneurons transmit the impulse to the next neuron.
- Motor neuron axons are exceptionally long, conveying messages from the cell body to an effector (e.g., a muscle or gland).
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Description
Explore the essential components and functions of the nervous system in this quiz. Learn about the different types of neurons, their structures, and how they communicate through nerve impulses. Test your knowledge on the role of glial cells and the flow of signals in neuronal networks.
