Label each region of the neuron on the image below. Axon Dendrite Synaptic knob Cell body Reset
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Here are the correct labels for the regions of the neuron:
- Top-left box: Dendrite
- Bottom-left box: Cell body
- Middle-right box: Axon
- Far-right box: Synaptic knob
Explanation
The image displays a typical neuron, the fundamental cell of the nervous system responsible for transmitting information throughout the body. Each labeled part has a distinct and crucial function in this communication process.
The Cell body, also known as the soma, is the neuron’s metabolic center. It contains the nucleus, which holds the cell’s genetic material, and other essential organelles that maintain the neuron’s life and function. The cell body integrates the signals received from its various inputs before deciding whether to fire an electrical signal of its own.
Branching out from the cell body are the Dendrites. These tree-like extensions are the primary receivers of signals from other neurons. Their surfaces are covered with receptors that bind to chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. When these neurotransmitters are detected, they generate small electrical changes that travel toward the cell body for integration.
Leading away from the cell body is a single, long projection called the Axon. The axon’s primary role is to conduct nerve impulses, or action potentials, away from the cell body and transmit them to other cells. In the diagram, the axon is shown covered by a myelin sheath, which acts as an insulator to speed up the electrical signal’s transmission. The arrow along the axon indicates the direction of this signal flow.
At the very end of the axon, it branches into several axon terminals, each of which ends in a small swelling called a Synaptic knob or terminal bouton. This structure is the point of communication with the next cell. When an action potential reaches the synaptic knob, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, the tiny gap between the two neurons. These neurotransmitters then travel across the gap to stimulate the dendrites of the next neuron, perpetuating the signal.
