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In the nervous system, a synapse [1] is a structure that allows a neuron (or nerve cell) to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron or a target effector cell. Synapses can be classified as either chemical or electrical, depending on the mechanism of signal transmission between neurons.
The entire synapse is covered in a myelin sheath provided by the Schwann cell to insulate and encapsulate the junction. [3] Another important part of the neuromuscular system and central nervous system are the astrocytes. While originally they were thought to have only functioned as support for the neurons, they play an important role in ...
The main goal of electrical synapses is to synchronize electrical activity among populations of neurons. [3] The first electrical synapse was discovered in a crayfish nervous system. [3] Chemical synaptic transmission is the transfer of neurotransmitters or neuropeptides from a presynaptic axon to a postsynaptic dendrite. [3]
The first list shows number of neurons in their entire nervous system. The second list shows the number of neurons in the structure that has been found to be representative of animal intelligence. [1] The human brain contains 86 billion neurons, with 16 billion neurons in the cerebral cortex. [2] [1]
Structure of a typical neuron with Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. Neurons are highly specialized for the processing and transmission of cellular signals. Given the diversity of functions performed in different parts of the nervous system, there is a wide variety in their shape, size, and electrochemical properties.
A neural circuit is a population of neurons interconnected by synapses to carry out a specific function when activated. [1] Multiple neural circuits interconnect with one another to form large scale brain networks. [2] Neural circuits have inspired the design of artificial neural networks, though there are significant differences.
In a neuron, synaptic vesicles (or neurotransmitter vesicles) store various neurotransmitters that are released at the synapse. The release is regulated by a voltage-dependent calcium channel. Vesicles are essential for propagating nerve impulses between neurons and are constantly recreated by the cell.
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the structure and function of the nervous system. [1] [2] It encompasses the branch of biology [3] that deals with the anatomy, biochemistry, molecular biology, and physiology of neurons and neural circuits. It also encompasses cognition, and human behavior. [2]