Nursing PSY113 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Postcentral Gyrus, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential, Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential
26 Sep 2016
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Lo 3. 1: distinguish between the parts of neurons and what they do. Neurons: nerves cells specialized for communication with each other. There are around 85 billion neurons, with around 160 trillion connections between them. They are oddly shaped when compared to other somatic cells, but they have a number of specific features. The cell body (soma): this is the central region of the neuron. It is responsible for manufacturing new cell component, consisting of small/large molecules. This region contains the nucleus, involved with the protein manufacture; damage to this part can be dangerous to the entire cell. The soma also provides continual renewal of cell components. Dendrites: branchlike portion of the neuron that receives signal (information) from other neurons. Axons and axon terminals: axons are the portion of the neurons that transmit signals. Tiny spheres called synaptic vessels travel the length of the axon on their way to a knoblike structure at its far end called the axon terminal.
