What are the types of nerve cells? What are its parts and functions?
The types of nerve cells in the human body differ according to their functions, and this part of the human body is considered one of the very important parts that control many organs and different functions in the body, for this we had to explain to you the types of nerve cells and the most important functions of each type to get to know your body and the way it responds to different receptors Follow us and you will learn about all this.
What are neurons?
Neurons are a link between the various organs of the body and the nervous system. They are considered primarily responsible for transmitting any messages or signals through the body’s nervous system.
Formation of neurons
The formation of nerve cells differs greatly in terms of shape and size among them. The structure of each cell differs according to the role it plays and its location in the body. Mostly, nerve cells in the body consist of 3 parts, namely:
1- cell body
This part is considered the most important part of the cell as it is the main part of it, and its function is:
- Preserving the structure of the nerve cell.
- Carrying and containing genetic information.
- Energy saving and production in order to work well.
The bodies of neurons contain the nucleus, just like the rest of the cells of the body. The cell body is surrounded by a membrane to protect it and helps it interact with its surroundings.
2- The nerve axon
It is a long, elongated part with a tail-like structure that connects and joins the body of the nerve cell. The axon is surrounded by a substance known as myelin, which is a fatty substance that insulates the axon and helps it conduct electrical signals inside the body. Mostly neurons contain a single axon.
3- nerve dendrites
This part consists of fibrous roots and branching molecules from the bodies of neurons, and these branches are spread throughout the body. The function of these branches is to receive and process signals and transmit them to the nerve axons. Neurons can contain more than one set of dendrites, known as branching trees.
In terms of structure and structure, neurons can be divided into:
- Unipolar neuronsThese cells contain only one long axon that extends from the medulla and is responsible for the rapid transmission of electrical signals.
- bipolar neuronsThese cells have two extensions from the cell body, one of these extensions has the end of the axon and the other has dendrites, these cells send signals and receive information, and among the most famous examples of this type are the neurons in the eye, as they are responsible for receiving light and transmitting signals for the brain.
- Multipolar nerve cellsThis type of cell is the most prevalent in the body, and it is cells that contain one axon that is multi-branched, and transmits signals across the axon.
- pyramidal neuronsThese cells have an axon and numerous dendrites formed in a pyramidal shape. These cells are located in the cerebral cortex.
- Purkinje neuronsare inhibitory neurons that contain multiple dendrites branching from the neuron cell body, and they release neurons that prevent other neurons from being active.
Types of nerve cells
There are many types of nerve cells, as they have more than one type, and each cell has its own functions that control the human body, whether it is in the brain, spinal cord, or muscles, and in terms of cell functions, we can divide cells into different types, These types are:
1- Sensory neurons
These cells are responsible for feeling and discovering things around us. The main senses in the human body, such as feeling pain or touch, play a major role in helping us live and move safely.
One of the most famous examples of sensory cells is the feeling of pain, because if you feel pain in an area of your body, there are signals and sensory information sent through the sensory neurons of the brain, and this is through the flow of some electrical impulses from the area where pain occurred along the nerve fibers that relate to sensory cells.
These cells help the human body a lot, as they guide us when to move and when to stop by transmitting information and sending signals quickly so that we know how to behave. They are also considered the main support for complex movements such as the movements of picking up tools, and they nourish the muscles and joints so that they can move accurately.
2- Motor neurons
Also known as motor neurons, these cells control the movement of the body and coordinate the movement of muscles while ensuring the movement of the arms and legs, Motor neurons are divided into:
- Lower motor neuronsIt is located in the lower part of the body.
- Upper motor neuronswhich are found in the spinal cord and brain.
The lower and upper cells differ among themselves in the rates and levels of control according to their respective functions in the body. Through these cells, neurological disorders that can affect the body are classified and diagnosed.
One of the most prominent examples of the functions of these motor cells is that if you think about getting up and standing from a chair, the brain sends signals to the motor neurons to tell them to activate, and then the motor cells send instructions to the muscles controlling the leg to get up and stand up.
This process happens very quickly without much thought, through very precise coordination between the motor cells and between the muscles to support the smooth movement of the body.
3- Inner nerve cells
Also known as interneurons, this type of cell is the most abundant and widespread, and is responsible for controlling signals and messages within the body, and transmitting important information from one end of the nervous system in the body to the other, and relaying electrical signals.
These cells are located in the middle of other nervous cells of the body, such as sensory cells or motor cells, and they work to regulate signals, and they can control the signals sent and not sent.
The inner cells are considered multipolar cells, and this is what helps them to receive various and multiple signals, and send the command to the other neuron, and thus they are considered as control units because they control the traffic of signals and information and coordinate that accurately.
nerve cell functions
These cells are a basic support in the human body, as they are responsible for transmitting and sending signals within the body, and through them it is possible to move through different situations in a manner that suits each situation. It is also responsible for quickly and accurately coordinating the functions and movements of the body, without us realizing it.