MP Board · Class 9 · Science · TissuesDescribe the structure of a neuron (nerve cell) and explain how it helps in transmitting nerve impulses.

A neuron is the specialized structural and functional unit of the nervous system responsible for conducting nerve impulses throughout the body.

Structure of a Neuron:

1. Cell Body (Cyton/Soma): Contains a central nucleus surrounded by cytoplasm containing cellular organelles.
2. Dendrites: Short, branched, thread-like projections extending from the cell body that receive environmental stimuli or incoming signals from adjacent neurons.
3. Axon: A single, long, cylindrical process extending from the cell body that conducts electrical impulses away toward target tissues or next neurons, ending in terminal nerve endings.

Function in Impulse Transmission:\nNeurons receive information through dendrites as chemical signals, convert them into electrical impulses that travel down the axon, and release neurotransmitters at nerve endings to pass the signal onward rapidly.