How Are Axons And Dendrites Alike

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) Describe the composition and function of the cell body. b) How are axons and dendrites alike? In what ways (structurally and functionally) do they differ?
• The neuron cell body consists of a spherical nucleus with a conspicuous nucleolus surrounded by cytoplasm. The cell body of some neurons also contains pigment inclusions. It is the focal point for outgrowth of neuron processes during embryonic development. In some neurons, the plasma membrane of the cell body acts as part of the receptive region that receives information from other neurons. They are both types of neuron processes. Dendrites of motor neurons are short, tapering diffusely branching extensions. Dendrites provide an enormous surface area for receiving signals from other neurons. …show more content…

Myelin protects and electrically insulates fibers and increases the transmission speed of nerve impulses. Myelin sheaths in PNS are formed by Schwann cells, which indent to receive an axon and then wrap themselves around it in a jellyroll fashion. In CNS, the oligodendrocytes form myelin sheaths. Unlike Schwann cells, oligodendrocytes have multiple flat processes that can coil around as many as 60 axons at a time. In PNS, myelin sheath gaps separate adjacent sections of an axon’s myelin sheath. In CNS, myelin sheaths lack an outer collar of perinuclear cytoplasm because cell extensions do the coiling and cytoplasm is forced back toward the …show more content…

They extend from opposite sides of the cell body. These are found in some of the special sense organs. Multipolar: have 3 or more processes → one axon and the rest dendrites. They are the most common neuron type in a human. These are the major neuron type in CNS.

18. The neuron starts in the resting (polarized) state. All gated sodium and potassium channels are closed. Potassium channel opens slowly in response to depolarization. Sodium channels open. Repolarization: sodium channel are inactivating and potassium channels open. Hyperpolarization: Some potassium channels remain open and sodium channels reset.

19. CNS knows whether a stimulus is weak or strong by the frequency of signals that arrive from the PNS. More frequent means more strength.

20. EPSP: grades potential that can initiate an AP in axon. Local graded depolarization events that occur at excitatory postsynaptic membranes. Each lasts a few milliseconds and then the membrane returns to its resting potential.
IPSP: Hyperpolarizing changes in potential; summates both temporally and spatially. Drives the neuron away from the AP

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