A presentation on basic concept of a Neuron.

1. NEURON
MuhammadSalik
Roll No.
KEMU `12 -`17

2. NEURON
• Neurons are the basic
building blocks of the
nervous system.
• These specialized cells
are the information-
processing units of the
brain responsible for
receiving and
transmitting information.
• Each part of the neuron
plays a role in the
communication of
information throughout
the body.

3. STRUCTURE OF NEURON
o The main components of a neuron are
o Dentrites
o Cell body or Soma
o Axon
o Axon Hillock

5. DENTRITES
 Dendrites are treelike extensions at the beginning of
a neuron that help increase the surface area of the
cell body and are covered with synapses. These tiny
protrusions receive information from other neurons
and transmit electrical stimulation to the soma.
 Dendrite Characteristics
• Most neurons have many dendrites
• Short and highly branched
• Transmits information to the cell body

7. THE SOMA OR CELL BODY
 The soma is where the signals from the dendrites are
joined and passed on. The soma and the nucleus do
not play an active role in the transmission of the
neural signal. Instead, these two structures serve to
maintain the cell and keep the neuron functional.
 The support structures of the cell include
mitochondria, which provide energy for the cell, and
the Golgi apparatus, which packages products
created by the cell and secretes them outside the cell
wall.

9. THE AXON HILLOCK
 The axon hillock is located at the end of the
soma and controls the firing of the neuron. If the
total strength of the signal exceeds the
threshold limit of the axon hillock, the structure
will fire a signal (known as an action potential)
down the axon.
 The axon hillock is also the part of the neuron
that has the greatest density of voltage-
dependent sodium channels. This makes it the
most easily-excited part of the neuron

11. THE AXON
 The axon is the elongated fiber that extends from the cell
body to the terminal endings and transmits the neural
signal.
 Some axons are covered with a fatty substance called
myelin that acts as an insulator.
 These myelinated axons transmit information much faster
than other neurons.
 Axon Characteristics
• Most neurons have only one axon
• Transmit information away from the cell body
• May or may not have a myelin covering

13. SCHWANN CELLS AND MYELIN SHEATH
 Schwann cell are also an important component
of neuron cells
 Myelinating Schwann cells wrap around axons
of motor and sensory neurons to form the
myelin sheath.
 And as mentioned earlier these myelinated
axons transmit information much faster than
other neurons
 Plus the myelin sheath provides protection and
insulation to an axon