Characteristics And Function Of Neurons

When we look at the function of neurons and how they work, we see that these cells are an advanced piece of natural “engineering.” You may not be aware of it, but neurons are the basic units of the nervous system and they allow the body to control and coordinate all activities.

The way neurons function allows information to be transmitted to the body, both internally and externally, through a complex mechanism of chemical and electrical signals. In addition, the impulses can travel at a speed of 360 km per hour through certain nerve fibers.

Thanks to the way neurons work, we can withdraw our hands when we touch a red-hot surface, feel when something is soft, experience pain, know if something is cold, and so on. These cells are like messengers within our nervous system.

The characteristics and function of neurons

Neurons are a specific type of cells. They are part of the nervous system. Their basic function is to receive and transmit information via electrical impulses. Neurons form extensive communication networks throughout the nervous system.

These cells are star-shaped and have a central body that contains the structure that keeps them alive. They also have several branches containing many dendrites. In addition, they have a rather long branch, which is called the axon.

It used to be thought that the organism was not able to produce new neurons in the brain during life. However, a team of scientists from the medical Karolinska Institut in Sweden conducted an experiment and found that this is not the case. The brain can produce up to 1,400 neurons per day, thanks to a process known as “neurogenesis.”

Neuronal structure

As mentioned above, neurons are made up of three elements. Let’s take a closer look at these elements:

• The body, or soma, contains all the elements a neuron needs to be viable.
• The dendrites are extensions that receive the nerve impulses sent out by other neurons, through the process of a synapse.

• Finally, the axon or neurite is a thin, long projection that transmits nerve impulses to other cells

All neurons basically have this structure, but sometimes differ from each other based on the functions they perform. There are three different types of neurons. These differ from each other in a number of ways:

• First, the unipolar neurons. These have a single branch that has a dual function and acts as both a dendrite and axon. They are characteristic of sensory neurons.
• Then there are the bipolar neurons. These have two branches. One of them acts as a dendrite and the other as an axon. These are characteristic of the neurons in certain parts of the eyes, ears and nose.

• Third, the multipolar neurons are the most numerous type and have the classical structure of multiple dendrites in the form of a tuft, in the receiving zone, and a long axon in the output zone. These are mainly located in the spinal cord and brain.

How do neurons function?

The structure of these cells determines how the neurons function. Simply put, the neuron receives an electrical impulse through a dendrite. It then travels through the body of the neuron, or soma, and then travels through the axon to other cells.

The axon releases a chemical called a neurotransmitter. This in turn reaches the dendrites of the next neuron and triggers the electrical signal that starts a new cycle like the previous one. In fact, each neuron can make thousands of connections.

There are different types of neurotransmitters that enable the different neuron functions. Below we list the most important functions of these cells:

• Serotonergic secretes serotonin (mood).
• Dopaminergic secrete dopamine (pleasure).
• GABAergic secrete GABA (inhibitory neurotransmitter).
• Glutamatergic secretes glutamate (memory and recall).
• Cholinergic secretes acetylcholine (versatile).

• Noradrenergic secreting noradrenaline/noradrenaline/noradrenaline (increased heart rate and blood pressure).
• Vasopressinergic secrete vasopressin (a homeostatic regulator).
• Oxytocinergic secrete oxytocin (affection).

Other facts about how neurons work

As you have read, neurons are small messengers in the organism, because the main function of neurons is to receive and transmit information. They receive and deliver information to other neurons as well as muscles and glands. You now also know that neurons have three main functions:

• a sensory function
• an integrative function

• a motor function

The sensory function of neurons allows us to perceive internal and external changes such as heat, light, and so on. In addition, the integrative function processes the information received to provide an appropriate response. For example, to cover ourselves when we are cold.

Finally, motor function causes the muscles and glands to act, or not act, as the situation requires. There are neurons in our central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), but these cells are also in the peripheral nervous system.