Mora Mustaqeem, Kanth Rd

Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh

Topic Neuron
Submitted by Avantika Sanwal
Submitted to Dr. Parag Rastogi

BDS-I year
Roll No. – 19
Subject- Human Physiology
2
NEURON
The structural and functional unit of nervous system is
called Neuron. The term neuron is used to describe the
Nerve cell and its processes, namely the dendrites and
Axon. Nerves cell is present in the grey matter while
axon and dendrites are present in the white matter.
The human nervous system contains approx. 10¹² neurons.
 STRUCTURE OF NEURON
3
(A). Cell body or soma:-

The nerve cell bodies are of various sizes and forms-

Round, pyramidal, fusiform etc. It consists of:
1.Nissl Granules/ Body:- These are the basophilic granules
Composed of many thin membrane bound cavities
Which are covered by many minute particles consisting
Of RNA with protein.
2. Neurofibrillae:- These are fine threads. They traverse the
Cytoplasmic matrix forming a loose framework of fibrils in
The cytoplasm.

(B). Dendrites:-

• The dendrites are 5-7 short processes extending out from

the soma.
• They also contains nissl granules, mitochondria and neuro
fibrillae.
• They are the receptive processes of the neuron.
 (C).Axon:-

4 • The Axon originates from a thickened area of the

Cell body called axon hillock in which no Nissl
Granules are present.
• The cytoplasmic fluid that occupies the centre of
The axon is known as axoplasm.
• The cell membrane that envelops the cytoplasm
Also continues on the axon as axolemma.
• Its function is to conduct impulses away from the
Cell body.

(D).Synaptic knob:-

• The axon divides into terminal branches, each ending in

a number of synaptic knob.
• They contains vesicles in which synaptic transmitter secret-
-ed by the nerve is stored.
 FUNCTIONS OF NEURON

Receptive zone

Initial segment of
the axon

Propagation of Action
Axon Potential

Terminal Knob

• It maintains the functional and anatomical integrity of the

Axon.
• Materials responsible for maintaining the axon integrity are
Formed in the endoplasmic reticulum of the cell body.
 • The proteins associated with synaptic transmitters
Are also synthesised in the endoplasmic reticulum.
6
• Dendrites are the receptive processes of neurons
i.e they transmit impulses towards the cell body.
• Initial segment of the axon : A site where propag-
-ated Action potential are generated.

• Axon transmitted propagated impulses away from the

Cell body to the nerve endings.
• Synaptic knobs: Nerve endings where Action Potential
Causes release of synaptic transmitter.
 TYPES OF NERVE
7 FIBRES:
Myelinated Nerves: Unmyelinated Nerves:

1.The Schwann cell membra- 1.Axons are simply surround-

-ne is coiled several times -ed by Schwann cell witho-
around the axon forming the -ut wrapping in myelin.
multiple layers of membrane
that makes up the myelin.

2.Eg: All preganglionic fibre 2.Eg:All postganglionic fibres

Of ANS, Nerve fibres in som- Of ANS, Nerve fibres in som-
-atic Nervous system. -atic nervous system.

3. Conduction of nerve imp- 3. Conduction of nerve

Impulse is slow cause it is
-ulse is faster due to saltatory A continuous process.
Conduction.
Myelin Sheath: It is a protein-lipid complex, that covers the axon
at its endings and at a periodic constrictions
About 1mm apart called nodes of Ranvier.

8 1.Due to high insulating property, it prevents cross

Stimulation of adjacent axons.

2.Facilitates conduction of Nerve impulse.

Myelin sheath

Myelin Sheath is absent

On the basis of no. processes which originates from the cell

Body:
1.Bipolar- Auditory neuron
2.Unipolar- cutaneous neuron
3.Multipolar-Motor Neuron
 MYELINOGENESIS
9

Neurolemma or sheath of Schwann has a cell called Schw-

-ann cell which takes part in the deposition of myelin sheat-
-h round the axon, a process called myelinogenesis.
Myelin is composed of two lipid layer sandwiched between
Layers of protein and they form the myelin sheath of nerve
Fibre.

GLIAL CELL( NEUROGLIA)

These cells supports the nerve cells. There are approx. 10

Times as many glial cells as neurons. The glial cells are
Capable of multiplying by mitosis. They are of three types:

1.Microglia: The microglias are phagocytic cells which

Come from the bone marrow and enter the CNS from
Meninges and blood vessels.

2.Astrocytes: The astrocytes are found throughout the brain

Joining to the blood vessels and investing synaptic structure
Neuronal bodies and neuronal processe.
 3.Oligodendrocytes: They form myelin around the
10
Axon within CNS. The axon in the CNS do not have
Schwann cells.
 11 NEUROTROPHINS

They are the proteins that are responsible to maintain the

axon integrity, they are produced by the structures, which
the neurons and astrocytes innervate.
They bind to receptors at the endings of a neuron and are
Essential for survival and growth of the neuron.

1. Brain derived neutrophic factor(BDNF): Cutaneous

mechanoreceptors
2. Nerve growth factor(NGF): sympathetic& sensory neuron
3. Neurotrophin 3, 4&5: Neurons in brain
PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF NERVE FIBRES

12 1.Excitability
2.All or None law
3.Refractory Period
4.Accomodation
5.Conductivity

1.EXCITABILITY: It is the property by virtue of which various

excitable cells responds to the changes in their external
and internal environment. It is due to the disturbances in the
Ionic equilibrium across the receptive zone. The production
Of the wave of depolarization is called excitation impulse.
It depends on:
1.Strength duration curve
2.Effect of extracellular Ca2+

2.ALL OR NONE LAW: When a stimulus is applied either the

Axon will not respond with a spike production or it will
Respond to the maximum of its ability. This all or none
Relationship between the stimulus and the respond is call-
-ed All or None Law.
 3.REFRACTORY PERIOD: If two successive stimulus of
more than threshold intensity are applied to a nerve.
13
the nerve is unable to respond to the 2nd stimulus for
quite some time. The length of time it remains refra-
-ctory to the 2nd stimulus is called refractory period.

4.ACCOMODATION: The site of the membrane under stimulation

adapts to the applied stimulus. This is due to the
Slower opening and delayed closing of the voltage gated
k+ channels. A similar feature at nerve endings is called
adaptation.

5.CONDUCTIVITY: The nerve impulse is conducted along the

Nerve fibre. It is an active, self propagating process. And the
Impulse move along the nerve fibre at constant amplitude.
 MECHANISM OF CONDUCTION OF NERVE IMPULSE
14
A. In Unmyelinated Nerve Fibre:

Current sink Local current

ECF

++++++++-----+++++
-----------++++-------
Axon Impulse
- - - - - - - - - - - +++++ - - - - - -
+++++++++------+++++

1.The nerve cell membrane is polarised at rest i.e outside of

the membrane is +ve and inside of the membrane is –ve.
2. As soon as the fibre is excited at a point, the polarity is
reversed i.e outside of the membrane becomes –ve and
Inside of the membrane becomes +ve. This is called
Current sink.

3. A local circuit current flows b/w the depolarised membr-

-ane and the resting membrane areas.

4.The self propagating nature of the nerve is due to the

Circular flow of current and the successive depolarization
to the firing level of the membrane.
 B. In Myelinated Nerves:

15
Active node Inactive node
- +
+ -

+ -
- +

Direction of propagation

1.In myelinated Nerve fibre Action Potential is generated

Only at the nodes of Ranvier, the region where the axon
Cell membrane is exposed to the ECF.

2.Here, the active generation of current is confined to the

Node, but depolarising the whole internodal length of the
Local circuit current. Depolarisation jumps from one node
Of ranvier to the next. Jumping of depolarization from
Node to node is called Saltatory Conduction.

3.It is a rapid process and can conduct much faster than

The unmyelinated fibres.
 1.Orthodromic Conduction: Impulse normally pass
16 In on one direction only i.e from synaptic junction /
Receptor along axon to the termination. Such
Conduction is called orthodromic conduction.

2.Anti-dromic conduction: Opposite to orthodromic, seen

In sensory nerves that supply the blood vessels.

 NERVE FIBRE TYPES & FUNCTIONS:-

ARP
Fibre type Functions (in msec)

Proprioception, golgi
Typical myelinate- A Tendon organ, touch. 0.4-1
-d fibres of spinal Touch, pressure& motor
nerves Functions. Motor to mus-
-cle spindles. Pain, temp.
& crude touch.

Myelinated B Pre-ganglionic autono- 1.2

(efferent pre-gan- -mic nerve fibres.
-glionic)
C Pain, touch, temp,& 2
1.Dorsal
conduct impulses gene-
root
-rated by cutaneous
Unmyelinated receptors.
2.Sympath- 2
Post ganglionic sympa-
-etic
-thetic Nerve fibres