Neuronal Structure

Neurons comprise a cell body (or soma), dendrites, and an axon that ends at a terminal. The cell body contains the nucleus and the machinery necessary to synthesize proteins. The cell body is also the region of the neuron in which an electrical impulse is generated. Extending from the cell body are short, branched dendrites which receive chemical signals from other neurons or stimuli that initiate an electrical signal. This electrical impulse (or action potential) propagates from the cell body, along the axon toward its terminal. The axon is an elongated fiber that transmits the impulse by altering the flow of sodium and potassium ions across the neuronal membrane. Many axons are surrounded by a myelin sheath composed of lipids and proteins. Like insulation coating an electrical wire, this fatty layer greatly increases the speed of electrical impulses down the axon.

High Impact List of Articles

Relevant Topics in

Table of Contents

For Authors

For Librarians

Open Access Journals