Dendrites and axons are important parts of neurons, which are the building blocks of our brain and nervous system. To understand how our brains work, we need to know what these parts do.
What They Are: Dendrites look like tree branches. They come out from the neuron and help it connect with other neurons. A single neuron can have hundreds of these branches!
How They Work: Dendrites have special receptors. These receptors react to chemicals called neurotransmitters. When they do, they help pass messages between neurons. Dendrites take in both exciting and calming signals to figure out if the neuron should send a message out.
Fun Fact: On each dendrite, there can be tiny bumps called dendritic spines. These spines are where connections, or synapses, happen. A typical dendrite can have over 1,000 of these spines, helping the neuron connect to many other neurons.
What They Are: Axons are long and thin parts that send messages away from the neuron’s main body. Most neurons have just one axon, but it can be very long—sometimes over a meter in motor neurons!
How They Work: Axons move electric signals, called action potentials, along their length. If the axon is covered in a protective layer called myelin, the signals move faster. They jump between small gaps in the myelin, which helps speed things up.
Fun Fact: Myelinated axons can send signals as fast as 120 meters per second! In comparison, unmyelinated axons send signals very slowly, at only 2 meters per second. This shows how much faster myelination makes the process.
Dendrites and axons work hand-in-hand to help our nervous system communicate. Dendrites catch and mix signals coming from other neurons, while axons send out the processed information. Together, they form a complex network that helps everything in our brain and body work smoothly.
Dendrites and axons are important parts of neurons, which are the building blocks of our brain and nervous system. To understand how our brains work, we need to know what these parts do.
What They Are: Dendrites look like tree branches. They come out from the neuron and help it connect with other neurons. A single neuron can have hundreds of these branches!
How They Work: Dendrites have special receptors. These receptors react to chemicals called neurotransmitters. When they do, they help pass messages between neurons. Dendrites take in both exciting and calming signals to figure out if the neuron should send a message out.
Fun Fact: On each dendrite, there can be tiny bumps called dendritic spines. These spines are where connections, or synapses, happen. A typical dendrite can have over 1,000 of these spines, helping the neuron connect to many other neurons.
What They Are: Axons are long and thin parts that send messages away from the neuron’s main body. Most neurons have just one axon, but it can be very long—sometimes over a meter in motor neurons!
How They Work: Axons move electric signals, called action potentials, along their length. If the axon is covered in a protective layer called myelin, the signals move faster. They jump between small gaps in the myelin, which helps speed things up.
Fun Fact: Myelinated axons can send signals as fast as 120 meters per second! In comparison, unmyelinated axons send signals very slowly, at only 2 meters per second. This shows how much faster myelination makes the process.
Dendrites and axons work hand-in-hand to help our nervous system communicate. Dendrites catch and mix signals coming from other neurons, while axons send out the processed information. Together, they form a complex network that helps everything in our brain and body work smoothly.