The diagram illustrates the structure of a human neuron and explains how it functions.
Overall, the neuron consists of five principal parts: the cell body, dendrites, the axon, the myelin sheath, and terminal buttons. Together, these components enable the transmission of electrical signals throughout the nervous system.
The cell body, also known as the soma, is round in shape and surrounded by multiple dendrites, which receive incoming messages from other neurons. From the soma, information passes into the axon, where electrical signals known as action potentials travel. In many neurons, the axon is covered by the myelin sheath, which insulates the signal and accelerates its transmission.
At the end of the axon, the terminal buttons form junctions with dendrites of other neurons, as well as with muscles or glands, ensuring communication across the network. In this way, the human nervous system functions as a vast chain of interconnected neurons