Nervous System and Drugs
Nervous Regulation
Nerve cells or neurons also allow cells to communicate with each other. Neuron communications are one way organism can detect and respond to stimuli at both the cellular and organism level. This detection and response to stimuli helps to maintain homeostasis in the cell or organism. Neurons may stimulate other nerve cells or muscle cells, thus causing the later to contract and produce movement.
Structure and Function of a Nerve Cell
Structures and their Functions
- dendrite — neuron branch which detects stimuli (changes in the environment)
- cell body — body of the neuron where normal metabolic activities occur
- axon — longest branch covered by a myelin sheath (which provides electrical insulation) — carries nerve message or impulse to the axon terminals
- axon terminals — release nerve chemicals called neurotransmitters which stimulate adjacent dendrites on the next neuron or a muscle cell
- Any change in nerve or hormone signals will change the communication between cells and organs in an organism and thus may cause problems for organism’s stability and ability to maintain homeostasis.
Vocabulary: dendrite, cell body, axon, myelin sheath, axon terminal, neurotransmitter