How does a neuron work?

Back to overview
Wings for Life will regularly publish illustration guides designed to help non-sci
entists understanding how the spinal cord works, how the injury alters it and fi
nally which different approaches scientists are taking to find a cure for spinal
cord injury. The first illustration guide will explore the basic structure and
functioning of a neuron.
Basic principle
A neuron (also known as nerve cell) is an electrically excitable cell that takes
up, processes and transmits information through electrical and chemical signals
. It is one of the basic elements of the nervous system.
In order that a human being can react to his environment, neurons transport stim
uli. The stimulation, for example the burning of the finger at a candle flame, i
s transported by the ascending neurons to the central nervous system and in retu
rn, the descending neurons stimulate the arm in order to remove the finger from
the candle.

A simple structure designed for a complex task

A typical neuron is divided into three parts: the cell body, the dendrites and t
he axon. The cell body (green color), the center of the neuron, extends its proc
esses called the axon and the dendrites to other cells. Dendrites typically bran
ch profusely, getting thinner with each branching (blue color). The axon is thin
but can reach enormous distances (violet color).

To make a comparable scale, the diameter of a neuron is about the tenth size of
the diameter of a human hair.

Getting really into it

The cell body is the central part of the neuron. It contains the nucleus of the
cell (that carries all the genetic material) and numerous organelles that allow
protein synthesis (endoplasmic reticulum, golgi, etc) and energy production (mit
ochondria).

The axon is a fine, cable-like projection that can extend over enormous distance
s. At its final tip, the axon contacts other cells (nerve- or muscle cells), thr
ough structures named synapses.
The cell body and the axon are supported by a complex network of structural prot
eins called microtubules.
Transmitting information
All neurons are electrically excitable. The electrical impulse mostly arrives on
the dendrites, gets processed into the cell body to then move along the axon.On
its all length an axon functions merely as an electric cable, simply transmitti

ng the signal. Once the electrical reaches the end of the axon, at the synapses,
things get a little more complex.

The key to neural function is the synaptic signaling process, which is partly el
ectrical and partly chemical. Once the electrical signal reaches the synapse, a
special molecule called neurotransmitter is released by the neuron. This neurotr
ansmitter will then stimulate the second neuron, triggering a new wave of electr
ical impulse, repeating the mechanism described above.