The nervous system, the neuron

Sample Solution

    The neuron, also known as the nerve cell, is the basic unit of the nervous system. It is composed of several components that work together to form a functional neuronal network. Neurons are specialized cells that receive and send electrical signals throughout the body and can be found alone or in a network with other neurons.

The main parts of a neuron include: dendrites; an axon; soma (cell body); axon terminals; and neurotransmitters. The dendrites are short extensions from the soma that receive stimuli from outside sources, such as other neurons or environmental factors. These incoming messages gather at the synaptic terminal which is located on one end of the dendrite where they are converted into electrical impulses. The electrical impulse then travels through the axon which is responsible for transmitting signals away from the cell body to various destinations within or outside of an individual's nervous system. Covered in myelin sheath, this insulating material wraps around each section of a single neuron allowing for more efficient conduction by speeding up transmission time between two points along its length - much like insulation wrapped around electrical wiring does in a home’s wall outlets . Neurotransmitters help to control when and how quickly these signals move across synapses by releasing chemicals into space between two connecting neurons, allowing them to communicate faster without interference from other neural pathways. At their destination point, whether it be another neuron or muscle fiber, these signals terminate via neurotransmitters binding with receptor sites on target cells causing them to either produce an action potential (firing) or rest depending upon what type information they carry (excitatory vs inhibitory). In some cases this may lead directly to physical movement while in others it might cause additional processing via intermediate neurons before manifesting itself outwardly as muscle contraction/movement later down stream in our bodies' chain reaction processes like reflexes performed unconsciously by many organisms including humans when sensing tactile pain stimuli applied peripherally near any joint area typically measured between 1-10mmHg pressure range respectively - resulting net effect being instantaneous jerking away motion over multiple body parts simultaneously towards source stimulus location thus protecting us against further damage due injuries potentially incurred thereupon during contact events thus promoting self-preservation instinctive behavior among all living species accordingly regardless of order kingdom divides lifeforms too.. In summary, neurons have several components that allow them to receive external stimuli and convert it into electrical impulses which then travel along its length until reaching its destination where it terminates after passing through myelin sheaths found along its surface walls providing insulation support facilitating efficient conduction speeds along said route itself even better yet thereby enabling effective communication mechanism amongst different neural networks residing inside respective central nervous systems greater than ever before seen so far!