Neurons And Hippocampus By: Garrett Carpenter

Hippocampus/ Neuron Intro The definition of neurons is brain cells that manifest all properties of the mind. Neurons send and receive information. Not all neurons look the same. The fact that they send and receive information: one of the few characteristics they share. The reason being that they come in different shapes and sizes. The word hippocampus comes from the Greek word hippo meaning horse and the other Greek word meaning sea monster. It plays an important role in long-term memory and spatial navigation.

Hippocampus The hippocampus is very closely related to the cerebral cortex. It is like it because it is paired structure with the two equal sides on both the left and right sides of the brain. It is located inside the medial temporal lobe beneath the cortical surface.

Neurons The study of neurons can be classified as ne plus ultra or the quantum mechanics of biology. They can conduct distinct signals as electro-chemical pulses. These are known as action potentials or “spikes.”

Hippocampus Its curved shape reminded early anatomists of the horns of a ram or a seahorse. The name was given to this part of the brain by a sixteenth century anatomists Julius Caesar Aranzi . When you have Alzheimer's disease, your hippocampus is one of the first components of the brain affected. Memory loss and disorientation are among the first symptoms. Your hippocampus is also responsible for emotion and learning.

More Information on Neurons Neurons are like the core components of the nervous system which is the brain, spinal cord, and the peripheral Ganglia. A ganglion is a biological mass of tissue and is usually a mass of nerve cell bodies. A number of specialized types of neurons exist: sensory neurons respond to touch, sound, and light and numerous other stimuli affecting cells of the sensory organs that then send signals to the spinal cord and brain. Motor neurons receive signals from the brain and s spinal cord and cause muscle contractions and affect glands. Interneuron's connect neurons to other neurons within the same region of the brain or spinal cord.

What is a Ganglion? Well, in anatomy, ganglions are biological tissue masses, usually a mass of nerve cell bodies. Also, cells found in ganglions are called ganglion cells, though this is also sometimes used to refer to specifically to something called retinal ganglion cells.

Quick Facts Did you know, the two cerebral hemispheres account for 85% of the brains weight. The billions of neurons in the two hemispheres are connected by thick bundles of nerve fibers.

Bibliography http://www.nutramed.com/brain/neurons.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocampus http://www.psycheducation.org/emotion/hippocampus.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuron http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/Unraveling/Part1/inside.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganglion

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