Question

in 4 or 5 sentences, describe the anatomy of the basic unit of the nervous system, the neuron. include each part of the neuron and a general overview of electrical impulse conduction, the pathway it travels, and the net result at the termination of the impulse. be specific and provide examples.

Answer 1

A neuron comprises a cell body, dendrites, and an axon, insulated by myelin and with increased conduction at nodes of Ranvier, culminating in neurotransmitter release at a synapse.

Step-by-step explanation:

The basic unit of the nervous system is the neuron, which consists of three main parts: the cell body, containing the nucleus and most cellular organelles; dendrites, which are extensions that receive signals from other neurons; and the axon, a long, slender projection that transmits electrical impulses to other neurons or effector cells. The axon may be covered by a myelin sheath, formed by Schwann cells, which insulates the axon and increases the speed of impulse conduction, especially at the nodes of Ranvier where action potentials are propagated more quickly. At the end of the axon are the axon terminals, where the neuron interacts with other cells through a synapse. When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft, which then binds to receptors on the post-synaptic cell, leading to a response in that cell.