GCSE Biology - AQA
1.2.3 - Nerve Cells
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The function of a nerve cell is to transmit electrical impulses in order to carry information around the body.
Nerve cells have many structural adaptations that allow them to carry out this function.
Microscope image of a nerve cell in an insect's brain. The nerve cell has been stained green. The blue shape behind it is the brain.
A diagram of a nerve cell is shown below:
A nerve cell
The part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus is called the cell body.
Coming off from the cell body there are many thin, branching structures called dendrites.
Also coming off from the cell body is a long, thin structure called the axon.
There is a fatty structure called the myelin sheath wrapped around the axon.
The end of the axon is split into endings called axon terminals.
A nerve cell is adapted for its function in the following ways:
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What is the function of a nerve cell?
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What is the structure of a nerve cell?
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How do the dendrites enable a nerve cell to carry out its function?
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How does the axon enable a nerve cell to carry out its function?
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How does the myelin sheath enable a nerve cell to carry out its function?
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How do the axon terminals enable a nerve cell to carry out its function?
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