Adaptations-of-Nerve-Cells.docx

**[Nerve Cells]** Myelin sheath Nerve cells carry **[electrical impulses]** to transmit messages around the body. To do this efficiently they are **[long and thin]**, rather like telephone wires, so that the information travels quickly over a long distance. The axon is surrounded by a **[myelin sh...

**[Nerve Cells]** Myelin sheath Nerve cells carry **[electrical impulses]** to transmit messages around the body. To do this efficiently they are **[long and thin]**, rather like telephone wires, so that the information travels quickly over a long distance. The axon is surrounded by a **[myelin sheath]** which acts as **[electrical insulation]**, making sure that the electrical impulses arrive at their destination without jumping off and getting lost somewhere in the body. Often, electrical impulses may need to be sent off to many parts of the body at once, so nerve cells have **[dendrites (branches at the end)]** which allow them to communicate with other nerve cells.