Neurotransmission Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Neurotransmission - Term Paper Example x support the neurons, digest the dead neurons, and manufacture the protective myelin sheath covering the neurons besides providing nutrition (â€Å"Brain Cells’’ 2001). Thus neurons along with their connections can be visualized as electric conductors insulated in a thick mass of glial cells. A typical neuron, like other cells has a main body in which resides the nucleus and is called soma (Fig. I). From this emanate the inward signal processing projections called the dendrites and the outward signal processing axons, or the conducting fibres (Case Presentation, January 27th, 2014). The point where the two neurons connect with each other is known as the synapse, the latter being the juncture where transmission of axonal information takes place (Case Presentation, January 27th, 2014). A synapse is comparable with a connecting switch which transmits current from one circuit to another. Dendrites receive the incoming signals from the preceding neuron, the signals being generated in the form of micro electric action potentials in the soma, wherein the signal processing and stabilization takes place. The axons transmit the information from the prior to the subsequent neurons. The fatty myelin sheath serves to insulate the axon thereby facilitating transmission of signals. This myelin sheath is akin to the insulation we see on electric wires. As the insulation on electric wires stops leakage of electric current thereby protecting us, similarly the myelin sheath on the neuron protects leakage of action potential to adjacent neurons so that they can send signals along the actual destined pathways for them. However, at specific intervals it exposes the neuron at junctures called ‘Nodes of Ranvier’ which are meant for increasing the speed of transmission of the onward electric signals. A typical neuron connects with 1000-1000 other neurons through synapses (â€Å"Brain Cells’’ 2001). This can be compared to a big power supply line feeding hundreds of houses for