Neurones
are nerve cells. They carry information as tiny electrical signals. There
are three different types of neurones, each with a slightly different
function.
- Sensory neurones carry signals from receptors to the spinal cord and brain.
- Relay neurones carry messages from one part of the CNS to another.
- Motor neurones carry signals from the CNS to effectors.
The diagram tot he right shows a typical neurone - in this case, a motor neurone. It has tiny branches at each end and a long fibre carries the signals.
Synapses
Where
two neurones meet, there is a tiny gap called a synapse. Signals cross
this gap using chemicals called neurotransmitters. One
neurone releases the chemical into the gap. The chemical diffuses across
the gap and makes the next neurone transmit an electrical signal.
.
[ This page has been adapted from www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science
]