Describe parts of the neuron

Answer 1

DENDRITE, SOMA, and AXON are the main parts of a neuron. Neurons signal one another via chemicals called NEUROTRANSMITTERS released at SYNAPSES.

DENDRITES are usually the RECEIVING part, SOMA is the body of the neuron where the DNA is and most of the metabolic activity occurs, and AXON is the OUTPUT portion of the neuron.

There can be many many DENDRITES, depending on the type of neuron, and the AXON can divide near its end and have some number of AXON TERMINALS.

Neurons 'connect' at SYNAPSES (without exactly 'touching', that is without merging their cell membranes and sharing cytoplasm , and are held in place by SYNAPTIC ADHESION MOLECULES which protrude from each side of the synapse and stick to one another, binding the parts of the synapse together). A SYNAPSE is a tiny GAP between neuron structures (typically an AXON of one neuron and a DENDRITE of another), where the neural signal is conveyed from one neuron to the next via chemicals called NEUROTRANSMITTERS.

A neuron signals another neuron in this way: as a neuron FIRES, an ACTION POTENTIAL is caused to move along the axon; when it reaches an AXON TERMINAL it causes tiny bags called VESICLES to merge with the cell membrane and release NEUROTRANSMITTERS into the SYNAPTIC gap (or CLEFT) between the neurons, where the neurotransmitters diffuse quickly to the post-synaptic DENDRITE. The dendrite has LIGAND-GATED ION PORES which have structures which receive the neurotransmitters, like a key into a lock, which then causes the pores to open and allow sodium ions into the dendrite. These sodium ions can then BEGIN this same process in that next neuron, if ENOUGH signals are received to TRIGGER its firing.

A neuron can be TRIGGERED to FIRE if either MANY dendrites receive signals (called SPATIAL triggering), or if one or more dendrites receive many signals in quick succession (called TEMPORAL triggering).

Answer 2

Dendritic Spines, Dendrites, Soma, Nucleus, Axon Hillock, Axon, Terminal Buttons.