6 Neuron

Neuron
Faizan Hameed
Superior University
Main Campus Lahore
Neuron
The structural and functional unit of the nervous
system is called neuron.
In the nervous system all those cells which can

be generate and can be excited and generate action
potential and conduct action potential all those cells as
a group are called neuron.
They constitute half of the nervous system
Neurons once matured do not divide any further.

However, they exhibit limited regenerative capabilities.
It can detect receive and transmit
stimulus.
A SIMPLE QUESTION:
How many neurons are there in the

brain……?
It is altogether impossible to count the

Neurons but still there are Millions of
them…..
Classification of neuron:
It has been divided into three

categories.
I. Morphological
II. Functional
III.According to Length of Axon
1)Morphological:
Uni polar neuron:
I. Single axon
II. No-dendrite
Apolar neuron:
III. No dendrite
IV. No axon
Bi-Polar neuron:
I. Single dendrite
II. Single axon
Multipolar Neuron:
III. Several dendrite
IV. Single axon
Pseudo-Unipolar neuron:
V. A single process which divides into two branches
close to the cell body.
Functional:
1.Sensory neurons
Sensory neurons are nerve cells within the
nervous system responsible for converting
external stimuli from the organism's environment
into internal electrical impulses.
2.Motor neurons
A nerve cell forming part of a pathway along

which impulses pass from the brain or spinal cord
to a muscle or gland for the proper action against
the stimulai
3.Interneurons
.
Interneurons are the central nodes of neural
circuits, enabling communication between sensory
or motor neurons and the central nervous system
(CNS). They play vital roles in reflexes, neuronal
oscillations, and neurogenesis in the adult
mammalian brain.
According to the Length of Axon:
1.Golgi Type I Neurons

2.Golgi Type II neuron
Axons are of two types:
1.Myelinated nerve fiber:

Myelinated nerve fibers are covered by myelin
sheath.
It is found in spinal and cranial nerve.
2.Non-myelinated fiber:
These axons are not covered by Myelin sheath.
It is found in autonomous and somatic neural system.
Location of the Neurons
Neurons are located on all over the body for the
different functions such as to sense the stimulae and
perform the appropriate function.
1 - Location of Sensory Neurons:
Sensory neurons are located in the spinal

ganglia within the dorsal roots along the spinal cord
and in the ganglia of CN V. The receptors for
temperature, pressure, touch, and noxious stimuli
are located on or near body surfaces.
2 - Location of Motor Neurons:
A motor neuron (or motoneuron) is a neuron
whose cell body is located in the motor
cortex, brainstem or the spinal cord, and whose
axon (fiber) projects to the spinal cord or outside
of the spinal cord to directly or indirectly control
effector organs, mainly muscles and glands.
3 - Location of Interneuron:
These are found abundantly in the Brain as

well is in the Spinal cord in a large number but they
are not present or absent in the Peripheral Nervous
system.
Structure of The Neuron
Neuron is Mainly Divided into three main parts:
I. Axons
II. Cell Body
III. Dendrite
Axons:
An axon, is a long, slender projection of a nerve
cell, or neuron, in vertebrates, that typically conducts
electrical impulses known as action potentials away from
the nerve cell body. The function of the axon is to
transmit information to different neurons, muscles, and
glands….
Axon’s Structure
Axon Hillock:
The axon hillock is a specialized part of the
cell body of a neuron that connects to the axon.
The axon hillock and initial segment have a

number of specialized properties that make them
capable of action potential generation.
Nodes of Ranvier:
Nodes of Ranvier are microscopic gaps

found within myelinated axons. Their function is
to speed up propagation of action potentials
along the axon via saltatory conduction.
The Nodes of Ranvier are the gaps between

the cell of Schwann cells which insulate the axon
of neuron
Cell Body:
The cell body is the spherical part of the neuron that
contains the nucleus and connects to the dendrites, which
bring information into the neuron, and the axon, which sends
information to other neurons. The job of the cell body is to
control all of the functions of the cell.
Cell Body’s Diagram

Dendrites:
Dendrites also dendrons, are branched
protoplasmic extensions of a nerve cell that propagate
the electrochemical stimulation received from other
neural cells to the cell body, or soma, of the neuron
from which the dendrites project.
Structure of dendrites
Re-Polarization & De-Polarization
Re-Polarization:
Repolarization is essential for the
neuron to regain its ability to generate
another action potential.
Repolarization is the process by which the

cell membrane returns to its resting
membrane potential after depolarization.
After an action potential, the cell membrane
becomes permeable to potassium ions (K⁺)
and allows them to leave the cell
De-Polarization:
Depolarization is typically associated

with the initiation and propagation of action
potentials, which are rapid changes in
membrane potential that allow neurons to
transmit signals over long distances.
Hyperpolarization:
Hyperpolarization is when the membrane
potential becomes more negative at a particular
spot on the neuron's membrane, while
depolarization is when the membrane potential
becomes less negative (more positive).
Function of Neurons:
Neurons (also known as neurones, nerve cells and
nerve fibers) are electrically excitable cells in the nervous
system that function to process and transmit information. In
vertebrate animals, neurons are the core components of the
brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
It serves Following major Functions:

 Neurons send signals using action potentials. An action
potential is a shift in the neuron’s electric potential caused
by the flow of ions in and out of the neural membrane.
 Action potentials can trigger both chemical and electrical

synapses
Chemical synapses:
 In a chemical synapse, action potentials affect other
neurons via a gap between neurons called a synapse. Synapses
consist of a presynaptic ending, a synaptic cleft, and a postsynaptic
ending.
 When an action potential is generated, it’s carried along

the axon to a presynaptic ending. This triggers the release of
chemical messengers called neurotransmitters
 .These molecules cross the synaptic cleft and bind to

receptors in the postsynaptic ending of a dendrite.
Neurotransmitters can excite the postsynaptic neuron, causing it to
generate an action potential of its own. Alternatively, they can
inhibit the postsynaptic neuron, in which case it doesn’t generate an
action potential.
Electrical synapses
 Electrical synapses can only excite. They occur

when two neurons are connected via a gap junction.
This gap is much smaller than a synapse, and includes
ion channels which facilitate the direct transmission of a
positive electrical signal. As a result, electrical synapses
are much faster than chemical synapses. However, the
signal diminishes from one neuron to the next, making
them less effective at transmitting.
Afferent neurons
Convey information from tissues and organs
into the central nervous system and are also called
sensory neurons.
Efferent neurons
(Motor neurons) transmit signals from the
central nervous system to the effector cells.
Interneurons
Connect neurons within specific regions of
the central nervous system
Thank You!
Regards:

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Neuron

In the nervous system all those cells which can

They constitute half of the nervous system

Neurons once matured do not divide any further.

How many neurons are there in the

It is altogether impossible to count the

It has been divided into three

Uni polar neuron:

A nerve cell forming part of a pathway along

1.Golgi Type I Neurons

Axons are of two types:

1.Myelinated nerve fiber:

1 - Location of Sensory Neurons:

Sensory neurons are located in the spinal

These are found abundantly in the Brain as

The axon hillock and initial segment have a

Nodes of Ranvier are microscopic gaps

The Nodes of Ranvier are the gaps between

Cell Body’s Diagram

Repolarization is the process by which the

Depolarization is typically associated

It serves Following major Functions:

 Action potentials can trigger both chemical and electrical

 When an action potential is generated, it’s carried along

 .These molecules cross the synaptic cleft and bind to

 Electrical synapses can only excite. They occur

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