Neurons

STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE
NEURON (Nerve Cell)

•Dendrite: many tree-like projections
from the neuron that carry messages to
the cell body
•Axon: the single long arm of the
neuron that carries messages away
from the cell body
•Myelin Sheath: insulating layer around
neurons that allow nerve impulses to
be transmitted quickly and efficiently
•Synapse: space separating two
neurons

NERVE IMPULSE

•Stimulus creates an impulse
•Impulse travels into the neuron
on the dendrite and out on the
axon
•At the end of the axon a
NEUROTRANSMITTER is released
•Neurotransmitter carries the
impulse across the synapse to the
next dendrite

Types of Neurons

•Sensory Neurons: sends
information from sensory
receptors (ie. Skin, eyes, ears,
nose, tongue) to the spinal cord
and brain
•Motor Neurons: sends
information from central
nervous system back to body
•Associative: (aka interneurons)
sends information between
sensory and motor neurons

Fill in the Blanks

A nerve cell is known as a/an:

Multiple Choice

Which part of the nerve cell is specially constructed to transmit a message from one cell to another nerve cell?

• myelin sheath

• dendrite

• neuron

• axon

Multiple Choice

Impulses enter the neuron by the way of the:

• myelin sheath

• dendrite

• synapse

• axon

Multiple Choice

Impulses travel from one neuron to another by way of the:

• myelin sheath

• dendrite

• synapse

• axon

Multiple Choice

In a nerve impulse, messages travel from one neuron to another by way of which sequence?

• axon → myelin sheath → dendrite

• dendrite → myelin sheath → axon

• axon → synapse → dendrite

• dendrite → synapse → axon