Structure & Function of a Nerve Cell

A nerve cell, or neuron, is the basic unit of the nervous system. It transmits information to and from the brain. The structure of a neuron allows the transmission to be quick.

Types

• There are several types of nerve cells, including multipolar, bipolar and pseudounipolar. They can be classified as motor, sensory or interneurons.

Function

• Motor neurons send information away from the central nervous system (CNS). Sensory neurons send information toward the CNS. Interneurons send information between motor and sensory neurons.

Structure

• Nerve cells consist of a cell body, axon and dendrites. The cell body contains the nucleus and other cellular compartments. The axon is long and surrounded by a layer of fat. The dendrites are branches from the cell body.

Features

• Axons carry information away from the cell body. Dendrites carry information toward the cell body. The cell body processes information and maintains the nerve cell by producing proteins.

Transmission

• The space between nerve cells is called the synapse. For information to cross the synapse, chemicals are released from one nerve cell and interact with the next nerve cell.