Question

17. Describe the structure of a neuron and how it transmits a nerve impulse within the neuron and between neurons (at the synapse).

Answer 1

Answer - are cells that make up our nervous system. A neuron is made up of three parts basically which includes dendrites, soma & the axon.

Dendrites - these are branch-like structures that receive a signal from the other connected neuron.

Soma - also known as cell body which has all the neuron cell organelles.

Axon - It is a structure that is wrapped by fatty myelin.

The dendrites receive signals from other neurons via neurotransmitters which when binds to the receptors on the dendrites act as a chemical signal. That binding opens ion channels that allow charged ions to flow in and out of the neurons converting the chemical signal into an electrical signal. Since multiple dendrites receive neurotransmitters, which results in the change of the charge signals inside the neuron ultimately give rise to an action potential. This action potential is an electrical signal that passes through the axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters on the other end of the neuron which is passed onto the next neuron and so on further. Neurotransmitters are used by a neuron to communicate with each other. The action potential in the axon is usually carried out to propagate signals within the cell.