Nerve Cell Structure and Function PDF

## Mikrotubuli * **Description:** Mikrotubuli are tiny tubes that form a network throughout the neuron, similar to neurofibrils. They are involved in transporting proteins and organelles within the neuron. * **Nissl's Substence:** Nissl's substance contains: * Endoplasmic Reticulum * Riboso...

## Mikrotubuli * **Description:** Mikrotubuli are tiny tubes that form a network throughout the neuron, similar to neurofibrils. They are involved in transporting proteins and organelles within the neuron. * **Nissl's Substence:** Nissl's substance contains: * Endoplasmic Reticulum * Ribosomes * Free ribosomes * This substence is responsible for protein production within the cell. * **Golgiapparatet:** * Network of flattened sacs and vesicles that surround the nucleus. * Responsible for producing various types of vesicles. * Vesicles transport substances to the axon. * **Mitochondria:** * Located in neuroplasma. * Act as the cell's powerhouses, providing energy for protein synthesis and impulse conduction. ## Centrosom * Found only in young nerve cells and stem cells. * Mature nerve cells cannot divide. ## Neuron's Neuroplasm * Contains various inclusions, including: * Lipids * Pigments ## The Neuron's Nucleus * Large and round, with a prominent nucleolus. * The chromatin is relatively sparse. ## The Neuron's Extensions * **Dendrites:** * Direct extensions of the neuronal cell body. * Generally short and branched. * Receive information from other neurons. * Contain Nissl's substence, suggesting they are part of the soma. * **Axon:** * Single, long extension from the neuron. * Transmits impulses away from the cell body. * Does not contain Nissl's substence. ## How Nerve Cells Die * Although nerve cells can regenerate in some regions of the central nervous system (CNS), they cannot divide. * As cells die, they are not replaced, leading to a decline in function. * This decline in function is more pronounced in older individuals, leading to loss of cognitive abilities like memory.