Neurone

Neurone

A neurone (or neuron) is an electrically excitable cell that communicates with other cells via specialized connections called synapses. It is the main component of nervous tissue in all animals except sponges and placozoans. Neurons are typically composed of a soma, or cell body, a dendritic tree, and an axon.

Structure

Neurons vary in shape and size and can be classified by their number of neurites, such as unipolar, bipolar, and multipolar. The soma is the body of the neuron and contains the nucleus. The dendrites are extensions of the neuron that receive signals from other neurons. The axon is a long extension that transmits signals to other neurons.

Function

Neurons communicate with each other via synapses, small gaps at the end of neurons that allow signals to pass from one neuron to the next. They transmit information to other neurons using a combination of electrical signals and chemical signals.

Classification

Neurons can be classified in several ways, such as by their function (sensory neurons, motor neurons, interneurons), by the direction in which they send information (afferent neurons, efferent neurons), or by their number of neurites (unipolar neurons, bipolar neurons, multipolar neurons).

Clinical significance

Diseases of the neuron include neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, which result in the death of neurons. Other diseases, such as schizophrenia and depression, are thought to be at least partly due to abnormal functioning of neurons.

See also

• Nervous system
• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Neurobiology

References

Neurone Resources
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