A cell that carries messages

The idea

Neurons receive, process and transmit messages; each has a cell body containing the nucleus, dendrites that receive signals from other neurons, and an axon that carries messages to axon terminals, which pass them to other cells.

Messages in the body

Nervous tissue is made of nerve cells, called neurons. A neuron is specialised to receive, process and transmit messages.

What shape would suit a cell that has to pass messages along?

• One with a long fibre as well as branches
• A round cell with nothing sticking out
• A flat cell in a tight layer

Send a message

Press Send a message and follow the orange dot.

Three main parts

The message came in at the dendrites, passed the cell body, ran along the long axon, and was passed on at the axon terminals. The cell body holds the nucleus and controls the cell's activities.

Neurons receive, process and transmit messages. Each has a cell body containing the nucleus, dendrites that receive signals from other neurons, and an axon that carries messages to axon terminals, which pass them to other cells.

Notes

A neuron has a cell body (nucleus), dendrites (receive signals) and an axon (carries messages to axon terminals, which pass them on).

Check yourself

Which part of a neuron contains the nucleus?

What do dendrites do?

What do the axon terminals do?

• The cell body — correct. Yes!
• The axon. The axon is a long fibre that carries messages from the cell.
• The dendrites. Dendrites receive signals from other neurons.
• Carry messages to the axon terminals. That is the job of the axon, the long fibre that carries messages from the cell.
• Receive signals from other neurons — correct. Yes!
• Control the activities of the cell. That is done by the cell body, which contains the nucleus.
• Receive signals from other neurons. Receiving signals is done by the dendrites.
• Hold the nucleus. The nucleus is in the cell body.
• Pass messages to other cells — correct. Yes!