axons
Neuron's outgoing wires
Axons are the long, slender projections of nerve cells that conduct electrical impulses away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands.
A single neuron typically has one axon, which may branch extensively and extend considerable distances—some run from the spinal cord to the toes.
The axons were coated in myelin to speed signal transmission.
Neuron's signal-receiving projections
- myelinNerve fiber insulation
- somaBodily cells, excluding gametes
- neuriteNerve cell projection
- microtubulesHollow cellular protein structures
cytoskeleton · boutons · varicosities · collaterals · fascicles · tracts · myelination
Sudden inclinations to act
- depolarizationLoss of electrical gradient
- repolarizationMembrane voltage reset
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- voltage-gatedResponsive to electrical gradients
threshold · spike · firing · excitability · polarization
Chemical neural messengers
- vesiclesSmall enclosed sacs
- presynapticBefore the neural junction
- receptorsProteins binding specific molecules
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
glutamate · dopamine · serotonin · GABA · release · exocytosis · reuptake · neuropeptides
Damage to peripheral nerves
- demyelinationNerve sheath degradation
- lesionArea of pathological change
- regenerationBiological self-repair process
- dysfunctionAbnormal or unhealthy operation
dendrites
Neuron's signal-receiving projections
microtubules · cytoskeleton · boutons · varicosities · collaterals · fascicles · tracts · myelination
impulses
Sudden inclinations to act
- depolarizationLoss of electrical gradient
- repolarizationMembrane voltage reset
- propagationAct of spreading widely
voltage-gated · threshold · spike · firing · excitability · polarization
neurotransmitters
Chemical neural messengers
- vesiclesSmall enclosed sacs
- presynapticBefore the neural junction
- receptorsProteins binding specific molecules
acetylcholine · glutamate · dopamine · serotonin · GABA · release · exocytosis · reuptake · neuropeptides · excitatory
neuropathy
Damage to peripheral nerves
- demyelinationNerve sheath degradation
- lesionArea of pathological change
- regenerationBiological self-repair process
dysfunction · ALS · atrophy
- cell projectionscilia, cilium, flagella, flagellum, pseudopod
- branchingbranching, dendrite, dendrites, dendritic, tree root
- brain anatomybrain, cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, cortex
- nervous systembrain, neurons, nerves, spinal cord, dendrite
- neuroscienceneuron, MRI, brain, neurons, synapses
- brain partscerebellum, hippocampus, brainstem, thalamus, hypothalamus