The Cell Body - 1491 Words

1 - The Prototypical Neuron The neuron, also known as the nerve cell, is distinguished by several components: the soma, the axon, and the dendrites. The soma, or more commonly known as the cell body, is the semi-spherical central part of the neuron. In a typical neuron, it is about 20 um in diameter – and contains the same organelles that are found in all animal cells; a nucleolus, rough endoplasmic reticulum, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and mitochondria. With all of its inner components encased within the neuronal membrane. The neuronal membrane is an average of 5 nm thick, and greatly studded with various proteins; the function of a neuron is greatly regulated by the structure and components (proteins) of its†¦show more content†¦The axon begins by extending away from the soma, with the base region being known as the axon hillock. The axon may then extend to various lengths (depending on the specific tissue/function that cell pertains to) ranging from less than a millimeter to over a meter; as well as splitting into numerous axon collaterals (axons that branch away from the original axon). As for the thickness of the axon, it ranges from less than a millimeter to 25 mm in diameter (in humans) - with the speed of electrical impulses (nerve impulse) directly proportional to the thickness of the axon. At the end of the axon, is the axon terminal or terminal bouton: which can be described as a swollen disk or button, where the axon comes into contact with another neuron, or another cell (e.g. muscle cell) by which information may be passed onto. This interface point is known as a synapse - with the end of the axon known as the presynaptic terminal; in this structure there are multiple synaptic vesicles (that average 50 nm in diameter) with various chemical signals (neurotransmitters) used for synaptic transmission (the process of information transfer). The membrane surrounding the synapse is heavily dense with proteins and ion c hannels, in order to receive and traffic theShow MoreRelatedThe Cell Body1875 Words   |  8 Pagessoma which is the whole cell body that holds everything for example the nucleus. The nucleus is arguably the most important part of the cell it contains all the DNA for the cell and its genetic material, the nucleus is the brain of the cell. Next there are dendrites which are pretty close to the nucleolus in the cell and the dendrites are branched projections of a neuron that act to propagate the electrochemical stimulation received from other neural cells to the cell body, basically collecting informationRead MoreCell Membrane And The Cell Body917 Words   |  4 Pagesthe cell body, dendrites, axons and presynaptic terminal. The cell body (soma) contains the nucleus of a neuron and the endoplasmic reticulum. Extending out from the cell body are processes called dendrites and axons. These processes conduct nerve impulses. Dendrites conduct impulses toward the cell body while axons co nduct impulses away from the cell body. A fatty sheath called myelin sheath encases axons. It is the greatly expanded plasma membrane of an accessory cell called the Schwann cell whereRead MoreStem Cells And The Human Body1170 Words   |  5 PagesStem cells are different to all other cells in the human body because they have unique abilities to divide repeatedly, make many copies of themselves or differentiate into specialised cells such as skin cells, immune cells or nerve cells. Stem cells are also described as unspecialised because they are not yet advanced to perform an exact function. However, each of them has the potential to develop into one of a number of different specialised cell types depending on the body’s needs at a particularRead MoreStem Cells And The Human Body1421 Words   |  6 Pages Stem Cells Raven Carr Governor State University Stem Cells The human body is full of hundreds of special types of cells that are essential for ones every day health. These special cells are accountable for keeping our bodies going daily for instance making our brains think, hearts beat and, restoring our skin cells as they shed off. Stem cells are the provider for the development of new cells. â€Å"Stem cells have the amazing potential to expand into many different cell types in the body during earlyRead MoreStem Cells And Its Effects On The Body885 Words   |  4 Pages Stem cells have remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types during early life and growth in the body. Different tissues serve as all sorts of internal repair systems, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or even animal are still alive. When stem cells can divide, they can turn into new cells and have the potential either to remain a stem cell, or become another type of cell with a more specialized function. A cell with a specializedRead MoreHuman Cells And The Human Body1747 Words   |  7 PagesKidneys are one of the most essential organs in a human body which are crucial for blood filtration, toxins, and waste removal and maintaining and regulating the body’s pH. The researchers created kidney structures from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) called organoids which have the function and structural organization of a human fetal kidney in the first trimester. This study used the results of a previous study where human embryonic stem cells were differentiated towards a renal lineage. As a resultRead MoreStem Cells And Its Effect On The Body Essay2078 Words   |  9 PagesStem cells can be used to create different cells in the body. All stem cells can divide overtime to create another stem cell or a new type of cell which will have a more specialized role in the body. These new cells can function in different areas in the body and create different types of tissues such as a muscle tissue, a kidney tissue, a skin tissue, a lung tissue, and a brain tissue. There are different types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cellsRead MoreMicrobial Cells And The Human Body2131 Words   |  9 PagesIn the human body, there are many microbial cells and the number of microbial cells is 10 times greater than our human cells on the surfaces of our bodies (1, 2). In addition, the human gastrointestinal tract is the greatest collection of microbial cells, which contain plenty of bacteria, including different classes and subclass of microbe. Microbial cells reach around from ten million to one trillion cells per one gram of body weight in the human gastrointestinal tract content (2). The genomes ofRead MoreStem Cells And Its Effect On The Human Body1407 Words   |  6 Pages Stem cells are unspecialized cells of a multicellular organism and it has capability changing into any type cell. When stem cells divides, the new cell has the potential of choosing whether to stay a stem cell or turn into any type of specialized such as: skin cells, neurons, muscle cells and many more. Stem cells have no specific function but are special in their own way. In the early stage of the development, stem cells have the extraordinary potential to develop into any type of cell in theRead MoreProcess Of Dividing Body Cells And Their Nuclei Essay1268 Words   |  6 PagesYahya Bello Homework 1 Mitosis: can be defined as the process of dividing body cells and their nuclei. The body continually produced new cells by splitting from the ones that has already existed. Meiosis: can be defined as a particular form of cell splitting that generates reproductive cells, such as sperm and egg cells, plant and fungal spores. Steps involves in Mitosis Mitosis consists of four basic phases and they include prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Figure 1 shows the