The brain is a hive of neuronal activity, with billions of interwoven neurons firing to preserve and recall memories, coordinate thoughts and speech, and plan future actions. When we think of the nervous system, our thoughts immediately go to the brain. This code packages up genetic information and sends it from nerve cells to other nearby nerve cells, a very important process in the brain. For example, a virus bound its genetic code to the genome of four-limbed animals, and the code can still be found in humans' brains today, according to two papers published in the January 2018 journal Cell (opens in new tab). The brain's connections and thinking ability grew over thousands of years of evolution. Glial cells, derived from the Greek word for "glue," are specialized cells that support, protect or nourish nerve cells, according to the Oregon Institute of Health and Science University (opens in new tab). Motor neurons, located in the central nervous system or in peripheral ganglia, transmit signals to activate the muscles or glands. Sensory neurons react to physical stimuli such as light, sound and touch and send feedback to the central nervous system about the body's surrounding environment, according to the American Psychological Association (opens in new tab). Signals travel along an alpha motor neuron in the spinal cord 268 mph (431 km/h) the fastest transmission in the human body, according to Discover magazine (opens in new tab). – Reproductive system: Facts, functions & diseasesĪ synapse gives a command to the cell and the entire communication process typically takes only a fraction of a millisecond. – Immune system: Diseases, disorders & function – The circulatory system: An amazing circuit that keeps our bodies going – The lymphatic system: Facts, functions & diseases
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |