- Neurons are the basic structural unit of the nervous system. Each cell consists of the following parts (see Figure 1):
- The cell body contains the nucleus and other cellular organelles.
- The dendrites are typically short, slender extensions of the cell body that receive stimuli.
- The axon is typically a long, slender extension of the cell body that sends stimuli.
- The axon branches are, typically, smaller extensions of the axon.
- Neuroglia, or glial cells, provide support functions for the neurons, such as insulation or anchoring neurons to blood vessels.