They are the fundamental units of the nervous system and the brain.
They are the cells, which are accountable for getting sensory input from the external surroundings, conducting motor commands to the muscles, and for relaying and transforming the electrical signals at every step in between.
A neuron comprises three prime parts:
Dendrite: It is the branch from where a neuron attains input from other cells. The branching of dendrites takes place as they move towards their tips, and they even possess leaf-like compositions on them known as spines.
Axon: It is the output component of the neuron, when a neuron communicates with another neuron, it transmits an electrical message known as an action potential all through the entire axon.
Soma: It is the site where the nucleus is situated when the DNA of the neuron is present, and where proteins are produced to be transported all through the dendrites and axon.