Republic Iraq

Education Higher of Ministry

University Baghdad
College Dentistry

Histology
Neuron Cells Types and Structure

Ali Hayder Kadhum

Group: C
Supervised by: Dr. Saliha
 Neuron Cells Types and Structure
Introduction:
A neuron, neuron or nerve cell, is an electrically excitable cell that communicates with other
cells via specialized connections called synapses. It is the main component of nervous tissue in
all animals except sponges and placozoa. Plants and fungi do not have nerve cells.

Neurons are typically classified into three types by their function. Sensory neurons respond
to stimuli like touch, sound, or light that affect the cells of the sensory organs, and they send
signals to the spinal cord or to the brain. Motor neurons receive signals from the brain and
spinal cord to control every action from muscle contractions to glandular secrete.
. Interneurons connect neurons to other neurons within the same region of the brain or spinal
cord. A group of connected neurons is named a neural circuit.

Most neurons receive signals via the dendrites and soma and send signals down the axon. At
some of synapses, signals cross from the axon of one neuron to a dendrite of another one.
However, synapses could connect an axon to different axon or a dendrite to different dendrite.

The signaling process is partly electrical and partly chemical. Neurons are electrically
excitable, because to maintenance of voltage gradients across their membranes. If the voltage
changes by an outsized enough amount over a brief interval, the neuron generates an all-or-
nothing electrochemical pulse called an action potential. This potential travel rapidly along
the axon, and activates synaptic connections as it reaches them. Synaptic signals may
be excitatory or inhibitory, increasing or reducing the net voltage that reaches the soma.

In most cases, neurons are formed by neural stem cells during brain development and
childhood. Neurogenesis largely stop during adulthood in most areas of the brain. However,
strong evidence supports forming of substantial numbers of new neurons in the hippocampus
and olfactory bulb.

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Structures of a Neuron:
There are many, many different types of neurons but almost all have certain structural and
functional characteristics in common. A neuron consists of three major parts the cell body or
perikaryon or soma, dendrites and axons.

The cell body: that is the central region which is the most important part of the neuron
containing the nucleus of the cell. The soma is, the site of major metabolic activity in the
neuron. The size of neuronal somas ranges widely from 0.005mm to 0.1 mm in mammals.
Collections of cell bodies (somas) give the greyish appearance to the gray matter of the brain.

The protoplasm of cell body contains peculiar angular granules, which stain deeply with
basic dyes, like methylene blue; these are known as Nissl’s granules. These granules
disappear during fatigue or after prolonged stimulation of the nerve fibers connected with the
cells. They are work as represent a store of nervous energy, and in various mental diseases
are deficient or absent. Thought to be involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters like
acetylcholine. Sections of motor neuron spinal cord showing Nissl bodies on Nissl staining.

Dendrites: are extensions that carry impulses toward the cell body and are mentioned as
being afferent fibers. They effectively increase the area of a neuron to increase its ability to
communicate with other neurons.

An axon: that is one of two types of protoplasmic protrusions that extrude from the cell body
of a neuron. Unlike dendrites axons are long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that
conducts electrical impulses away from the neurons cell body. Axons are distinguished from
dendrites by several features, including shape, length, and function. The point where the axon
arises from a cell body is termed as axon hillock. Axoplasm is the cytoplasm within the axon
of a neuron.

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The axolemma is the cell wall surrounding an axon. It is responsible for maintaining the
membrane potential of the neuron, and it contains ion channels through which ions could flow.
In vertebrates, the axons of many neurons are sheathed in myelin, which is formed by either of
two types of glial cells: Schwann cells unsheathing peripheral neurons and oligodendrocytes
insulating those of the central nervous system. The myelin sheath work to protects the axon
and electrically isolates it. Increases the rate of Action Potential transmission (saltation).
Along myelinated nerve fibers, gaps within the sheath known as nodes of Ranvier occur at
evenly-spaced intervals.

Terminally the Axon branch sparsely, forming collaterals. Each collateral may split into
telodendrion which end in a synaptic knob, which contains synaptic vesicles – membranous
bags of NTs. Axons make contact with other cells by the synaptic knob often on dendrites of
other neurons but sometimes muscle or gland cells at junctions named synapses. The region
between the two connecting neurons is known as the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft or neural
junction. FIG (1)

FIG (1): Typical form of Neuron cell

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Types of Neuron according functional:
There are three major types of neurons: sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons. All
three have different functions, but the brain needs all of them to communicate effectively with
the rest of the body (and vice versa).

Sensory Neurons:
Sensory neurons are neurons liable for converting external stimuli from the environment into
corresponding internal stimuli. They are activated by sensory input, and send projections to
other elements of nervous system, ultimately conveying sensory information to the brain or
spinal cord. Unlike the motor neurons of the central nervous system (CNS), whose inputs
come from other neurons, sensory neurons are activated by physical modalities (like visible
light, sound, physical contact, etc.) or by chemical signals (like smell and taste).

Most sensory neurons are pseudo unipolar, meaning they have an axon that branches into two
extensions—one transmits this information to the spinal cord and another that connected to
dendrites that receive sensory information. FIG (2)

FIG (2): Sensory Neuron

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Motor Neurons
Motor neurons are neurons located within the central nervous system, and they project their
axons outside of the CNS to directly or indirectly control muscles. The interface between a
motor neuron and muscle fiber is a specialized synapse named the neuromuscular junction.
The structure of motor neurons is multipolar, meaning each cell contains a multiple dendrites
and single axon. This is the most common type of neuron. FIG (3)

Interneurons FIG (3): Relay Neuron

Interneurons are neither sensory nor motor; rather, they act such as the “middle men” that
form connections between the other two types. Located in the CNS, they operate locally,
meaning their axons connect only with nearby motor neurons or sensory. Interneurons can
save time and therefore prevent injury via sending messages to the spinal cord and back
instead of all the way to the brain. Like motor neurons, they are multipolar in structure. FIG(4)

FIG (4): Relay Neuron

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Refences:
1-Rutecki PA (April 1992). "Neuronal excitability: voltage-dependent currents and
synaptic transmission". Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology. 9 (2): 195–211.
2-Davies, Melissa (2002-04-09). "The Neuron: size comparison". Neuroscience: A
.journey through the brain. Retrieved 2009-06-20
3-Al, Martini, Frederic Et. Anatomy and Physiology' 2007 Ed.2007 Edition. Rex
.Bookstore, Inc. p. 288. ISBN 978-971-23-4807-5
4-https://erbt.ru/bQhY

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