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Question
Explain the structure and function of a neuron.
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Solution
The structure of neuron: Nerve cells or neurons are the structural and functional units of the nervous system. It consists of three major parts namely, cell body, dendrites, axon.
Cell Body: It is irregular in shape or polyhedral. It contains cytoplasm and certain granular bodies called Nissl's granules which contain a group of ribosomes for protein synthesis.
Dendrites: Dendrites are short fibres which branch repeatedly and protrude out of the cell body. They transmit electrical impulse towards the cyton.
Axon: They are long fibres arising from the cell body with a branched distal end. It terminates in a synaptic knob. It is filled with neurotransmitters.
Parts of axon:
a. Axoplasm: It is the cytoplasm of an axon.
b. Myelin sheath: It is made up of many layers of Schwann cells.
c. Neurilemma: The outermost layer of Schwann cells.
d. Nodes of Ranvier: These are gaps left by a myelin sheath.Function: The neurons are responsible for the conduction and transmission of the nerve impulses.
The structure of neuron: Nerve cells or neurons are the structural and functional units of the nervous system. It consists of three major parts namely, cell body, dendrites, axon.
Cell Body: It is irregular in shape or polyhedral. It contains cytoplasm and certain granular bodies called Nissl's granules which contain a group of ribosomes for protein synthesis.
Dendrites: Dendrites are short fibres which branch repeatedly and protrude out of the cell body. They transmit electrical impulse towards the cyton.
Axon: They are long fibres arising from the cell body with a branched distal end. It terminates in a synaptic knob. It is filled with neurotransmitters.
Parts of axon:
a. Axoplasm: It is the cytoplasm of an axon.
b. Myelin sheath: It is made up of many layers of Schwann cells.
c. Neurilemma: The outermost layer of Schwann cells.
d. Nodes of Ranvier: These are gaps left by a myelin sheath.
Cell Body: It is irregular in shape or polyhedral. It contains cytoplasm and certain granular bodies called Nissl's granules which contain a group of ribosomes for protein synthesis.
Dendrites: Dendrites are short fibres which branch repeatedly and protrude out of the cell body. They transmit electrical impulse towards the cyton.
Axon: They are long fibres arising from the cell body with a branched distal end. It terminates in a synaptic knob. It is filled with neurotransmitters.
Parts of axon:
a. Axoplasm: It is the cytoplasm of an axon.
b. Myelin sheath: It is made up of many layers of Schwann cells.
c. Neurilemma: The outermost layer of Schwann cells.
d. Nodes of Ranvier: These are gaps left by a myelin sheath.
Function: The neurons are responsible for the conduction and transmission of the nerve impulses.
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