NERVE ENDING Meaning and
Definition
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A nerve ending refers to the terminal part of a sensory neuron, which is responsible for transmitting signals between the body's various systems and the brain. These specialized structures are found in various tissues and organs throughout the body and play a crucial role in our ability to perceive and respond to different stimuli.
Nerve endings are highly sensitive to changes in the external and internal environment and are specialized to detect specific types of sensory information. They are categorized into different types, including mechanoreceptors (responding to touch and pressure), thermoreceptors (responding to temperature), nociceptors (responding to pain), and chemoreceptors (responding to chemical changes).
The structure of a nerve ending can vary depending on its role and location in the body. Generally, nerve endings possess delicate branches with numerous fine extensions known as dendrites that receive and transmit sensory signals to the central nervous system. These dendrites are typically found throughout the skin, muscles, joints, and organs, allowing us to feel touch, pressure, pain, and other sensations.
When a nerve ending is stimulated, it generates an electrical impulse that travels along the sensory neuron to the spinal cord and eventually reaches the brain. This nerve signal is then interpreted and processed by the brain, allowing us to perceive and react to the external environment. Overall, nerve endings are integral components of our sensory system, enabling us to experience the rich tapestry of sensations that make up our daily lives.
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Any one of the specialized terminations of a nerve, variously styled end-bulbs, taste-bulbs, tactile corpuscles, nerve-hillocks, etc.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for NERVE ENDING
- berve ending
- merve ending
- jerve ending
- herve ending
- nwrve ending
- nsrve ending
- ndrve ending
- nrrve ending
- n4rve ending
- n3rve ending
- neeve ending
- nedve ending
- nefve ending
- netve ending
- ne5ve ending
- ne4ve ending
- nerce ending
- nerbe ending
- nerge ending
- nerveending
Etymology of NERVE ENDING
The word "nerve" originated from the Latin word "nervus", which means "sinew, tendon, or nerve", and can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷneh₃-, meaning "to twist or bend". In Old English, "nerve" referred specifically to sinews or tendons, and over time, its meaning expanded to include the broader concept of nerves.
The word "ending" comes from the verb "to end", which entered the English language from the Old English word "endian", meaning "to finish, conclude, or come to an end". The concept of an "ending" gradually developed to refer to the conclusion or termination of various bodily structures.
When combined, "nerve ending" refers to the specific terminations or extremities of nerves that are responsible for transmitting sensory information.
Similar spelling word for NERVE ENDING
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