NERVE CELL Meaning and
Definition
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A nerve cell, also known as a neuron, is a fundamental unit of the nervous system responsible for transmitting and processing information throughout the body. It is an electrically excitable cell that receives, processes, and transmits signals to and from the different parts of the body, enabling communication between various cells, tissues, and organs.
A nerve cell consists of three main parts: the cell body, dendrites, and an axon. The cell body contains the nucleus which controls the cell's activities. Dendrites are thin, tree-like structures that extend from the cell body and receive incoming signals from other neurons or sensory receptors. The axon is a long, slender projection that carries the electrical signals away from the cell body to other nerve cells, muscles, or glands.
These cells communicate through a process known as synaptic transmission. When a nerve impulse reaches the end of an axon, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers that transmit signals across the synapse, a small gap between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of another. The neurotransmitters bind to specific receptors on the receiving neuron, generating a new electrical impulse that continues the signal transmission.
Nerve cells are crucial for coordinating and controlling the body's functions, including movement, sensation, thought, and memory. They enable the transmission of both voluntary and involuntary signals, allowing us to perceive and respond to our environment. The delicate balance and intricate networks formed by millions of nerve cells enable the complex functioning of the human body and underpin our ability to perceive, learn, and interact with the world around us.
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• Ganglion c., the cell body of the neuron; a nerve-c. of the first type, or Deiter's c., has one neuraxon continuous with the axis-cylinder of a nerves fiber; a nerve-c. of the second type, or Golgi's c., har one neuraxon which does not form the axis-cylinde-of a nerve-fiber, but divides into numerous branches forming a dendraxon; a nerve-c. of the third type, or Cajal's c., has two or more neuraxons.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for NERVE CELL
- berve cell
- merve cell
- jerve cell
- herve cell
- nwrve cell
- nsrve cell
- ndrve cell
- nrrve cell
- n4rve cell
- n3rve cell
- neeve cell
- nedve cell
- nefve cell
- netve cell
- ne5ve cell
- ne4ve cell
- nerce cell
- nerbe cell
- nerge cell
Etymology of NERVE CELL
The word "nerve cell" is a compound term that consists of two parts: "nerve" and "cell".
The term "nerve" comes from the Latin word "nervus", which means "sinew" or "nerve". It was used in early anatomical and physiological studies to describe the fibrous cords that transmit signals between different parts of the body. Over time, the term "nerve" also began to refer to the overall structure of the nervous system.
The term "cell" derives from the Latin word "cellula", meaning "small room" or "compartment". In biology, it refers to the basic structural and functional unit of living organisms. The concept of cells was first introduced in the 17th century when the development of microscopes allowed scientists to observe and study the microscopic structures of organisms.
Similar spelling words for NERVE CELL
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