What is a neuron? Write the structure and functions of a neuron.
Answer:
Nervous tissue contains highly specialised unit cells called nerve cells or neurons. Each neuron has the following three parts:
- The cyton or cell body: It contains a central nucleus and cytoplasm with characteristic deeply stained particles, called Nissl granules.
- The dendrites: These are short processes arising from the cyton.
- The axon: It is a single, long, cylindrical process of uniform diameter* It carries impulses away from the cell body.
Functions:
Neurons have the ability to receive stimuli from within or outside the body and conduct impulses to different parts of the body. The impulses travel from one neuron to another neuron and finally to the brain or spinal cord.