Parts of a Nerve

The main part of a neuron is the cell body, also known as the soma (soma: the body of an organism). The cell body contains the nucleus and most of the cell's major organelles. Neurons are distinguished by their numerous membrane extensions, called processes. Neurons typically have one axon—a long fiber extending from the cell body that projects toward target cells. The axon propagates nerve impulses, transmitting signals to one or more cells. The other neuron processes are dendrites, which receive information from other neurons at specialized contact points called synapses. Dendrites are usually highly branched, offering multiple sites for communication with the cell body. Information flows through the neuron starting at the dendrites, moving across the cell body, and continuing down the axon. This directional flow imparts polarity to the neuron, meaning information travels in one set direction. *LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS CC licensed content, Shared previously, Nervous Tissue, Authored by: OpenStax College. License: CC BY: Attribution. License Terms: Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/mYoZvS9p@3/Nervous-Tissue*