Neurones (nerve cells)

The primary functional cells of the nervous system, specialised for generating and conducting electrical impulses (action potentials).

They typically have:

Dendrites: Branched extensions that receive signals from other neurones or receptors and transmit them towards the cell body.

Axon: A single, long extension that transmits nerve impulses away from the cell body towards other neurones, muscles, or glands. Many axons are covered by a myelin sheath, formed by neuroglia, which speeds up impulse transmission.

There are two types:

Free Health & Social Care resources