Characteristics And Function Of Neurons

Analyzing the function of neurons and how they act, we realize that these cells are a sophisticated piece of natural “engineering”. You may not know it, but neurons are the basic unit of the nervous system and allow the body to control and coordinate all activity.

The way neurons work makes it possible to transmit information to the body, both externally and internally, through a complex mechanism of chemical and electrical signals. Pulses can also be transmitted at a speed of 224 miles / hour through certain nerve fibers.

Due to the way neurons work, we can withdraw our hands when we touch a hot surface, we feel when something is soft, we experience pain, we know if something is cold and so on. These cells are the messengers of the nervous system.

Characteristics and function of neurons

Neurons are a type of cell that is part of the nervous system. Their basic function is to receive and transmit information by electrical impulses. Neurons create extensive communication networks throughout the nervous system.

These cells have a star-like shape and a central body that contains the structure that keeps them alive. They also have several branches, in which there are many short dendrites and similar to tufts. In addition, they have a fairly long branch, called an axon.

People previously believed that the body is not able to produce new neurons in the brain during life. However, a team of scientists from the Karolinska Medical Institute in Sweden conducted an experiment and found that this was possible. The brain can produce up to 1,400 neurons a day, due to a process known as “neurogenesis.”

Neural structure

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How do neurons work?

The structure of these cells determines how neurons function. The neuron receives an electrical impulse through dendrites. Then the signal passes through the body or soma and goes to other cells through the axon.

The axon releases a chemical called a neurotransmitter. In turn, it reaches the dendrites of the next neuron and triggers the electrical signal that begins a new cycle identical to the previous one. In fact, each neuron can make thousands of connections.

Other facts about the function of neurons

As you can see, neurons are important messengers in the body because their main function is to receive and transmit information. They receive them and deliver them to other neurons, as well as to the muscles and glands.

Now you know that neurons have three main functions: sensory, integrative and motor. The sensory function allows us to perceive internal and external changes, such as heat, light and so on. The integrative function processes the information received to give an appropriate answer: we dress when we are cold, for example.

Finally, motor function causes the muscles and glands to act or not, as needed. There are neurons in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), but these cells are also in the peripheral nervous system (its central nucleus is the ganglion located inside the digestive system).