Electrical impulse along a neuron

The idea

Nervous tissue, a network of neurons, conducts information as electrical impulses: information at the dendritic tip sets off a chemical reaction creating an impulse that travels from the dendrite to the cell body and along the axon to its end.

A message on the move

A nerve cell has a branched end called a dendrite, a cell body and a long thread called an axon. A message starts at one end of the cell.

In which direction does the message travel along the neuron?

• From the dendrite, through the cell body, along the axon to its end
• From the end of the axon, through the cell body, to the dendrite
• It starts in the cell body and goes both ways at once

Follow the impulse

Press Next step to follow the message along the neuron.

One path

In the picture the impulse went the same way: dendrite, cell body, axon, end of the axon.

Nervous tissue is a network of neurons that conducts information as electrical impulses. Information at the dendritic tip sets off a chemical reaction that creates an impulse. The impulse travels from the dendrite to the cell body and along the axon to its end.

Notes

An impulse starts at the dendritic tip, travels to the cell body and then along the axon to its end. Neurons form a network that conducts information as electrical impulses.

Check yourself

Where is information acquired in a neuron?

What does the information at the dendritic tip set off?

In which order does the impulse pass the parts of a neuron?

What is nervous tissue made of?

• At the end of the axon. The axon end is where the impulse finishes. The information is acquired at the dendritic tip.
• In the middle of the axon. The impulse travels along the axon. The information is acquired at the dendritic tip.
• At the end of the dendritic tip — correct. Yes!
• A chemical reaction that creates an electrical impulse — correct. Yes!
• The release of chemicals at the end of the axon. That happens later, when the impulse reaches the end of the axon.
• The shortening of a muscle cell. A muscle cell shortens much later, after the impulse has reached it.
• Axon, cell body, dendrite. The impulse starts at the dendrite and ends at the axon, not the other way.
• Dendrite, cell body, axon — correct. Yes!
• Cell body, dendrite, axon. The impulse reaches the cell body after starting at the dendrite.
• A network of muscle cells. Muscle cells are a different tissue. Nervous tissue is a network of neurons.
• A bundle of hormones. Hormones are chemicals, not cells. Nervous tissue is made of neurons.
• An organised network of nerve cells or neurons — correct. Yes!