Neurones
receptorOrgan, tissue or cell that detects a stimulus. and effectorThe organ, tissue or cell that produces a response. are connected to the central nervous system (CNS)The part of the nervous system made up of the brain and spinal cord. by neuroneNerve cells. They carry an electrical message or impulse when stimulated..
A neurone’s function is to transmitTo cause something to pass from one area to another. electrical impulses across the nervous system quickly.
A neurone is adapted for this function in the following ways:
- The cell body contains the cytoplasmThe living substance inside a cell (not including the nucleus).and nucleusThe nucleus controls what happens inside the cell. Chromosomes are structures found in the nucleus of most cells. The plural of nucleus is nuclei. (the control centre of the cell).
- The axon is a long extension of the cytoplasm (can be up to 1m). This means nerve impulses can be transmitted to the extremities The furthest point of something, which in the body is the hands and feet. by one cell.
- The myelin sheath is a fatty layer that surrounds the axon. The sheath acts as an insulator and speeds up nerve impulses.
- The branched ends of the axon and the smaller branches coming from the cell body allow the neurone to make connections with many other neurones.