EDSP 161 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Multipolar Neuron, Unipolar Neuron, Axon Hillock

• School: SJSU
• Department: Education - Communicative Disorders and Sciences, Department of
• Course: EDSP 161
• Professor: Anita Schaak

Document Summary

Neurons - the building blocks of the nervous system that transmit electro-chemical signals in the body. Cell body (soma) - contains nucleus and cytoplasm. 2 types of cells - neurons and neuroglia. 2 types of processes extending from cell body - dendrites and axons. Dendrites - conduct impulses toward the cell body; multi-polar. Axon - -each neuron has a single axon. Generally myelinated axon hillock - - where cell body and axon connect. Neuron types: by connections - - sensory (afferent) Neuron types: by # of neurites - - unipolar. Found in developing cells bipolar neurons - - has 2 processes. Sensory (afferent) pseudounipolar neurons - - has 1 process. Branches out into 2 extensions: one serves as axon and other as dendrite. Sensory (afferent) multipolar neuron - most common, many dendrites and one axon neuron function - primary purpose is communication. Efferent communication - motor signals from cns to pns. Afferent communication- sensory signals from pns to cns.