Introduction
Neuroscience is a delicate aspect of science about neurons that equally combines other areas of Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology. It brings to focus a broad knowledge about the human nervous system which is complex.
Ongoing research about known and unknown diseases of the nervous system enables accurate therapy and advancing technologies that save lives.
The behaviors and experience we humans express individually are a representation of the variable patterns our neurons operate. A neuron is the unit of the nervous system, whose estimate in the human body could be about 10 billion.
Parts of the neuron
Neurons are made of the cell body, dendrites, and the axons. The dendrites conduct nerve impulses towards the cell body, while the axons conduct nerve impulses away from it.
The cell body appropriately converts nerve signals which it passes across to the axons by conduction. The axons conduct this information to neurons and target cells through its collateral branches
Neural synapses
The axons of nerve cells have special terminals that form synapses in close proximity with other structures. These synapses may occur in either of these patterns: axodendritic; axoaxonic; or synapses with other non-neural tissues.
Within the axon terminals of presynaptic nerve endings are synaptic vesicles. Conduction of nerve impulses cause the release of special neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles which store them. In this way, there is transfer of information between nerves or nerves and other tissues.
The release of neurotransmitters which bind receptors of target cells may have either of these effects: excitatory; inhibitory; intracellular activation of the second messenger system.
Types of neurons
The functional types of neurons include: afferent, efferent neurons and interneurons. The afferent neurons detect feelings of touch, pain, vibration, temperature, proprioception; They also sense changes in our tase, vision, smell, hearing, and balance.
The effector neurons leave the CNS through their axons to innervate structures including glands and muscles. The location of interneurons is mainly in the CNS, where they function to analyze, interpret, and store information.