Neurons are specialized cells that transmit information through neurotransmitters. They have a cell body, dendrites, and axons, and are classified as motor, sensory, or interneurons. They cannot divide or repair themselves, but the brain can adapt to damage.
A neuron is a highly specialized cell capable of conducting information in the form of neurotransmitters, chemical signals that can trigger a variety of activities or responses. These cells function in a binary way: they are turned on or off, depending on which neurotransmitters they have received. They are the building blocks of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and individual nerves in the body. There are different types of these cells, and they’re designed for specific tasks, ranging from cells that cluster together to form the brain’s gray matter to motor neurons in the tips of your toes.
Each neuron has a cell body, known as the soma, which contains a number of organelles, along with dendrites, extensions capable of receiving information as it is transmitted to the cell. Type I neurons also have an axon, a long tail that can emit neurotransmitters when the cell is excited, while type II cells either lack this feature or have significantly shorter axons. The axon and dendrites may emerge from opposite ends of the cell body, or from the same end, depending on the type of neuron and its location.
The three main types are motor, sensory, and interneurons. A motor neuron carries data from the central nervous system to the rest of the body, while sensory neurons return sensory data along an afferent pathway, meaning they move information towards the brain. Interneurons can allow motor and sensory neurons to communicate directly.
Within these basic categories, cells can also be classified by form and function. Some examples of specific types include pyramidal, basket, anterior horn, medium spiny, granular, and Renshaw cells. These cells are found in various parts of the nervous system and perform various functions, from regulating breathing and other autonomic tasks to interpreting visual information. When someone reads, for example, sensory neurons in different areas of the brain fire as the brain interprets the visual image, deciphers the handwriting, and converts the written words into understandable language.
Somewhat unusually, neurons don’t divide and replicate like other cells in the body do. Those in the brain cannot replace or repair themselves when damaged, although the brain can sometimes remap itself to adapt to the damage and function normally. Some cells, such as those found in the arms, can regrow parts of themselves, which is why a serious injury sometimes results in a loss of sensation that slowly returns over time as the nerves recover.
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