The 9 parts of a neuron (and their characteristics)

Have you ever wondered how the human brain works? How can we have the ability to think, imagine or perceive the world what surrounds us? From intelligence to the personality that characterizes us, all the details that make us what we are, what we can do and the ability to continue growing, comes from our brain. Have you already considered it?

Many people underestimate the scope of the brain, it even comes to be seen only as that rigid and logical part that keeps us anchored to reality and sometimes prevents us from getting carried away by the flow of thought. life.When this is completely wrong, while there is a side of our brain that focuses on logical elements, we also have a large part devoted to creativity and our emotions.

As you can see, our brain is in constant work and movement, however this is due to the neural connections that abound in every corner of it, thanks to which we can interpret and generate new information. but what are these neurons? What is its importance in the brain?

Well, we will solve all those doubts in this article, where you will be able to learn everything about neurons and their characteristics that give life to the most complex organ of the human being .

What are neurons?

Also known as brain nerve cells, they are the cells found in the nervous system and are in charge of processing, storing, and transmitting the information we receive from the outside.Through a process of chemical and electrical signals that can be connected through neurotransmitters, that is, the messenger that is responsible for transmitting information between each neuron.

The chemical process by which neurons acquire all kinds of information is due to the excitation or activation of their plastic membrane, which is responsible for receiving stimuli and conducting nerve impulse, that is, the response that this stimulus generates. We can then see it as a huge center for receiving and exchanging information, where each element that arrives is processed, stored, and generates responses.

Why are neurons important?

Imagine for a moment that you cannot communicate with anyone, at some point you may feel as if you do not exist in the world at all, because that is what would happen if neurons did not exist.Remember that they are in charge not only of understanding the information but also of responding to it, through the communication it has with the rest of the neurons and in this way we can understand the world that surrounds us and develop in it.

But if there is no communication in our brain, would we be able to process the stimuli that come to us? That is why, When there is a degenerative disease, brain injury or developmental diseases that compromise neuronal functions, people have negative conflicts to function in the world, since they lose the ability to interpret, store or respond to stimuli and therefore have difficulties in cognitive, psychomotor and even emotional skills.

Parts of a neuron and their characteristics

Next you will know how these neurons are composed so that they can carry out their jobs. Let's get to know the parts of neurons.

one. Cellular body

Also known as neuronal soma, it is the center or 'body' of the neuron, you can see it as the widest part in the shape of a flower or star and it is the place where the metabolic activity of the neuron. That is, where all the electrical processes of the same occur to carry out the transmission of information and where it forms the genetic material for its cellular survival (cytoplasm), through the generation of proteins.

But they also contain different types of cells that make up our genetic code, from mitochondria to chromosomes.

2. Axon

It is the main extension or 'tail' of the neuron that extends from the cell body, it is responsible for carrying the electrical impulse generated to the synaptic buttons. This occurs after the activation of the soma and the reception of neurotransmitters, to then generate the necessary response to the stimulus received, up to the neuron that will receive it.

Therefore, we can interpret the axon as a kind of information tube, where it carries the action generated in the body to the buttons responsible for distributing said response to the next place.

3. Dendrites

These are also extensions that arise from the soma of the neuron, but they differ from the axon in that they are several shorter extensions that intertwine and then separate at their tips and meet at the opposite end of the axon. In fact, it seems as if they were branches that extend from the center itself and cover it in its entirety.

The function of the dendrites is to capture the neurotransmitters of the nearby neuron that carries the message generated in the soma and then sends this information to the soma of its own neuron. That is, they are in charge of capturing the messages from neighboring neurons to store them in their own body, so that it generates the corresponding chemical and electrical response.

4. Core

As its name indicates, it is the nucleus or functional center of neurons, it is located within the soma and is considered a delimited structure, that is, it is separated from all those elements that are inside the cytoplasm, why? Because within the nucleus the DNA of the neuron is protected. Therefore, it is in charge of guarding the genetic material and the quality of life of the neuron.

5. Myelin sheaths

This is a very important structure within neurons, since they are responsible for facilitating the passage of information generated in the soma, allowing the electrical impulse to flow without any problem within the axon. These are a kind of capsules made of proteins and fats, which cover the axon until they reach before the synaptic buttons.

When there is a problem in the production of myelin, the responses and electrical impulses of the neurons slow down, since they cannot travel at the appropriate speed.

6. Axonal cone

This is one of the simplest parts of the neuron, but it is nonetheless important for its functioning. It is the structure that passes from the cell body to give shape to the axon, through the widening of the soma.

7. Synaptic knobs

They are found at the end of the axon after it divides into two fragments, where small branches with small buttons are formed, quite similar to dendrites. But instead of receiving electrical impulses, they are in charge of releasing the neurotransmitters with the responses generated in the soma so that the nearest neuron receives it.

8. Nissl substance

Also called as Nissl bodies, it is a set of small particles or granules that are present within the cytoplasm, from the soma to the dendrites that extend from it, but that are not even the axon nor in the synaptic knobs.

It has one of the most important functions of neurons, which is the production of proteins so that they can correctly carry the electrical impulses generated.

9. Ranvier's nodules

Remember that we mentioned that the myelin sheaths are capsules that are found along the entire length of the axon, well, these are not continuous but are slightly separated from each other and it is this excess space that known as Ranvier's nodules. The function of these nodules is that they can absorb electrolytes of sodium and potassium that are produced with the electrical impulse and which help them to travel without complications and with more speed in the axon.

Types of neurons

To close this article we will tell you what are the types of neurons that exist in our brain, and their main functions.

one. Sensory neurons

These neurons are responsible for receiving the stimuli that we can perceive from the outside through our five senses (smell, sight, touch, taste, and hearing). They also transmit the signals received by the internal organs to the brain.

2. Motor neurons

These are responsible for issuing neural signals to the muscles, when electrical impulses occur that emit a response, so we can be able to move our body according to the need we have.

3. Interneurons

They are a type of intermediary neurons, that is, they act as mediators between sensory neurons and motor neurons. Therefore, they ensure that messages are received and sent correctly.

4. Relay neurons

Considered as large neurons, whose function is to send different information from one part of the central nervous system to another without having to cross the peripheral nervous system.