Soma (biology)

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Soma (biology)

File:Soma (biology).jpg
Illustration of a neuron, showing the soma (cell body) in blue.

In biology, the soma is the body of a cell, separate from the nucleus, cytoplasm, and other cellular structures. It is also known as the cell body or cyton. The soma contains the cell's nucleus, and is where most of the cell's DNA is stored.

Structure[edit | edit source]

The soma is typically round, oval, or polygonal in shape. It contains a variety of organelles, including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes. The nucleus, which contains the cell's genetic material, is also located within the soma.

Function[edit | edit source]

The primary function of the soma is to maintain the health and functionality of the cell. It does this by producing necessary proteins and enzymes, and by providing a site for the cell's metabolic processes. In neurons, the soma is also responsible for transmitting electrical signals to the cell's axon.

In Neurons[edit | edit source]

In neurons, the soma is often referred to as the neuronal cell body. It is the site of synthesis for many of the proteins and molecules that are essential for the neuron's function. The soma also contains the neuron's nucleus, and is responsible for transmitting signals from the neuron's dendrites to its axon.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD