Bloques de Construcción del Sistema Nervioso: Neuronas Quiz y Flashcards

Study Notes

Understanding Neurons: The Building Blocks of the Nervous System

Neurons, often called nerve cells, are specialized cells that make up the complex and dynamic nervous system. These remarkable cells are responsible for receiving, processing, and transmitting information throughout our bodies, enabling a vast array of functions such as movement, perception, and cognition.

Neurons come in different shapes and sizes, and each plays a specific role in the nervous system. They are connected to one another through intricate networks, forming circuits that control our responses to the world around us.

Structure and Components

Neurons have three main components:

Cell body (soma): Contains the nucleus and organelles, and is responsible for maintaining the neuron's metabolic functions.
Dendrites: Tree-like extensions that receive signals from other neurons.
Axon: Long, slender extension that carries the neuron's electrical signals to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Types of Neurons

Neurons can be classified into various types, depending on their shape, function, and complexity.

Sensory neurons: Transmit information from sensory receptors (like touch receptors or photoreceptors) to the central nervous system (CNS).
Motor neurons: Carry signals from the CNS to muscles, causing them to contract (or relax) and enabling movement.
Interneurons: Connect other neurons within a single neural network or circuit, processing information and modulating the function of other neurons.

Neuronal Communication

Neurons communicate through electrical and chemical signals.

Electrical signals: Travel along the axon as action potentials (nerve impulses). These potentials, originating from the cell body, propagate down the axon and can jump (or "saltate") across the synaptic cleft to the dendrites of other neurons.
Chemical signals: Neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminals and bind to receptors on the dendrites of neighboring neurons, facilitating or inhibiting the flow of impulses.

Neuronal Plasticity

Neurons are not simply passive wires that transmit signals; they are highly plastic, meaning they can change and adapt. This plasticity allows the nervous system to adjust and learn from new experiences.

Synaptic strengthening: When two neurons frequently interact, the synapses between them grow stronger, making it easier for one neuron to influence the other.
Synaptic weakening: When neurons interact less frequently, the synapses between them weaken, making it harder for one neuron to influence the other.
Neuronal growth: As we age, we create new neurons and develop new neural connections, which can enhance our cognitive abilities.

Neurons and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurons are vulnerable to age-related degeneration and damage, which can lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease. Understanding neurons and the role they play in the nervous system is essential for developing treatments and finding cures for these devastating disorders.

Description

Descubre la anatomía y funciones de las neuronas, las células especializadas que forman el sistema nervioso. Aprende sobre su estructura, tipos, comunicación neuronal y plasticidad, así como su papel en enfermedades neurodegenerativas.