neuron
1 of 1nouna cell that is responsible for transmitting nerve impulses between the brain and the rest of the body
A neuron, also known as a nerve cell, is a specialized cell that is the fundamental unit of the nervous system. Neurons are responsible for transmitting information throughout the body, allowing us to think, feel, and move. They have a unique structure that includes dendrites, a cell body, and an axon. Dendrites receive signals from other neurons, while the cell body processes this information. The axon, which can be very long, carries electrical impulses away from the cell body and towards other neurons, muscles, or glands. Communication between neurons occurs through synapses, small gaps between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of another.
- Neurons transmit signals at speeds of up to 120 meters per second.
- Damage to sensory neurons can cause numbness in the limbs.
- A single neuron can connect to thousands of other nerve cells.
- The reflex arc involves a direct signal from sensory to motor neurons.
- Learning and memory depend on the ability of neurons to form new connections.