Final answer:
Neurons have a cell body, dendrites, and an axon, and they send electrical signals called action potentials through these structures. Signals typically flow from dendrites to axon terminals, passing through the synapse, where neurotransmitters carry the signal to the next neuron. Glial cells support neurons and help in signal transmission via the myelin sheath.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anatomy of a Neuron
The anatomy of a neuron consists of three main parts: the cell body (soma), dendrites, and the axon. The cell body contains the nucleus and most of the neuron's organelles. Dendrites are branching structures that receive signals from other neurons and send them to the cell body. The axon is a long projection that carries signals away from the cell body to other neurons or to muscles or glands.
Signal Transmission
Neurons send electrical signals known as action potentials. These signals generally move from the dendrites, through the cell body, and then travel along the axon towards the axon terminals. At the end of the axon, the signal reaches the synapse, a junction between two neurons, where neurotransmitters are released to carry the signal to the next neuron.
Associated Cells and Myelination
Neurons are supported by glial cells, which include oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. One of their functions is the formation of myelin sheath, an insulating layer that surrounds axons to increase signal transmission speed. The gaps in the myelin sheath are called nodes of Ranvier, allowing for the rapid propagation of action potentials through saltatory conduction.
Function of a Synapse
A synapse is the site of communication between a neuron and another cell. When an action potential arrives at the axon terminal, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters across the synaptic cleft, binding to receptors on the post-synaptic cell's membrane, which may initiate another action potential.