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C2.2 Neural Signaling

What is the Nervous System?

The human nervous system consists of two components:

1. The Peripheral Nervous System - ALL the nerves in your body
2. The Central Nervous System - Consists of your brain and spinal cord

• It allows us to register our surroundings and respond to them, and to coordinate and regulate body functions
• Information is sent through the nervous system in the form of electrical impulses - These impulses pass through a type of nerve cell called NEURONS and when neurons bundle together they make NERVES
• The central nervous system acts like an administrator for any electrical impulses sent in - They help direct them to sense organs and other regions of the body

Neurons

• Neurons have a main long fibre called an AXON
• The Axon is INSULATED by what’s known as Schwann Cells, and Schwann cells coagulating together make the Myelin Sheath that protects the Axon
• Neurons alongside an Axon and Myelin Sheath made up of Schwann Cells have a CELL BODY
• The Cell Body of a Neuron contains the NUCELUS and other cellular structures
• Each AXON TERMINAL (Like an airport terminal at the end of an axon) and end of a CELL BODY have extensions called dendrites
• These dendrites allow them to connect to many other neurones and receive impulses from them, forming a network for easy communication

Axon Diameter:

• Axons vary in diameter from approximately 0.1 µm (micrometers) to 20 µm.
• Larger diameter axons conduct nerve impulses faster due to lower resistance and faster signal propagation.