Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, consist of three main parts: the cell body, dendrites, and axon.
The cell body, also known as the soma, contains the nucleus and is responsible for maintaining the life of the neuron. It integrates incoming signals and generates outgoing signals to other neurons.
Dendrites are tree-like structures that extend from the cell body and receive messages from other neurons. They play a crucial role in collecting information from various sources and transmitting it to the cell body for processing.
The axon is a long, slender projection that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body towards other neurons or target tissues. It often has a myelin sheath that insulates the axon and speeds up signal transmission.
Understanding these three parts is essential for grasping how neurons communicate and function within the nervous system.