Neuron
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neurons are also called nerve cells. Neurons are the basic units of the nervous system and its most important part, the brain.
Every neuron has a cell body (called a soma) and nerve fibres (called axons and dendrites). There are about 100 billion neurons in the human brain.
[edit] Classes
There are three classes of neurons: afferent neurons, efferent neurons, and interneurons.
- Afferent neurons convey information from tissues and organs into the central nervous system.
- Efferent neurons transmit signals from the central nervous system to the effector cells.
- Interneurons connect neurons within the central nervous system.
[edit] Simple neuron classes
Sensory neurones carry signals from sense organs to the spinal cord and brain
Relay neurones carry messages from one part of the CNS to another
Motor neurones carry signals from the CNS to muscles, motor neurons are connected to the relay neurons. The signal passes between the neurons via synapses.
