Nerve Cells -Nerve cells are also known as neurons and they are the most basic part of the nervous system -Neurons carry information through the nervous system in a form called an impulse -Impulse: electrical signal transported down a neuron to carry information to other neurons, muscles, or glands Draw the picture below: Dendrite Myelin sheath Axon Synapse Cell body Nucleus

Nerve Cells -A neuron is made up of 4 parts: -a cell body -dendrites that branch off -a long axon with a myelin sheath -a synapse (synaptic terminals) Dendrite Myelin sheath Axon Synapse Cell body Nucleus

Nerve Cells Dendrite Dendrite -Dendrites receives incoming signals and bring them into the cell body -These signals can come from other neurons

Nerve Cells -The cell body is where the nucleus is located and where energy is broken down for the neuron Cell body

Nerve Cells -The axon extends away from the cell body and carries outgoing signals through an action potential to the synapse The space in between neurons is known as a synapse and it is where the neuron communicates with other cells Myelin sheath Axon Signal direction Synapse -the myelin sheath covers the axon and allows the impulse to travel faster -the myelin sheath is mostly made of lipids Signal direction

Nerve Cells -neurotransmitters: chemical messages released at the synapse and sent from one neuron to the next -receptors: located on the dendrite, they receive incoming signals RECEPTOR NEUROTRANSMITTERS

Nerve Cells Axon Dendrite Myelin Sheath Cell Body Receptors Axon endings or Synapse Receptors Neurotransmitters

Neuron Flowchart Directions: -Fill in the flow chart below and explain the sequence in which an impulse travels. Use the words below to help you. receptor, axon, cell body, neurotransmitter, synapse A new impulse begins at a ____________ located on a dendrite ____________ are released here which travel to the next neuron