Neuron+-+KF

=Introduction= toc = = Imagine, you are playing outside and you hear this buzzing sound. Your immediate reaction is to swat whatever it is away. That is your sensory neurons telling your brain to do that. Each neuron has a special ability to send information to the brain about your body.

A **neuron** is a cell in your body that sends information threw your nervous system to different parts of your body. Neurons are similar to other cells in the human body in a number of ways, but there is one key difference between neurons and other cells. Neurons are specialized to transmit information throughout the body. If your neurons die, then you will probably get ALS. You can become paralyzed or it can even kill you. Soon you will find out more about neurons and the 3 other neurons.

= = =The Structure of a Neuron=

A **neuron** is made up of a cell body. The cell body is the biggest part of a neuron. It has **dendrites**, they are the receiver. It has the **axon terminals**, which are the transmitters. The **soma** is usually compact the **axon and dendrites** are filament  that extrude from it. The **schwann** cells make the myelin. **The axon** is the conducting fiber. It is like a long string that connects the axon terminals to the nucleus. The **nucleus** contains the genetic material in the form of chromosomes. And lastly the **myelin sheath**, it insulating fatty layer that up speeds transmission.

=The 3 Types of Neurons=

There are 3 kinds of neurons that are found in the body. One is **sensory neurons**, **interneurons,** and **motor neurons**.**Sensory neurons** are nerve cells within the nervous system that are responsible for converting external stimuli from the organism's environment into internal electrical impulses. They also take information from our senses (touch, vision, hearing etc...) to our brain. **Interneurons** are a neuron that transmits impulses between other neurons, especially as part of a reflex. They are located in the brain and spinal cord while motor and sensory neurons are located throughout your body. **Motor neurons** take information from the brain and send in out to the rest of the body. If you wanted to pick something up, it will tell your brain to pick the object up in a certain motion that you will need to grip it.

=Where are Neurons in Your Body and How Big Are They= Neurons are everywhere in your body. **Interneurons** are located in your brain and spinal cord. These are the only neurons located there. The **sensory** neuron and **Motor neurons** can travel anywhere in your body so there basically everywhere in your body. In your brain alone, there are over 100 billion neurons in there. Neurons vary in size from 4 microns to 100 microns in diameter. No one neuron is the same they're all different. The axon of the neuron is much bigger than the actual “body” of a neuron. As you can see in the picture, the axon is longer than the actual neuron “body”.

=What Does ALS have to do With Your Neurons=

**ALS** is a disease where your neurons dont work. **ALS** an abbreviation for **Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis**. When motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. That means you will be paralyzed or it can kill you. In the summer of 2014, the huge thing was the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

__The__ __ALS Ice Bucket Challenge__ Is to raise awareness for this disease. The ALS Association has topped $100 million in donations from people all over the world. That shows how many people have participated because of all the money they raised. The whole purpose of this is to dump ice cold water over your head and if you don't do this in a matter of 24 hours then you  have to donate $100 to this foundation. Some people who actually did it still donated money and some even donated more to the foundation. It was such a good awareness, a lot of celebrities even did it too.

=**Conclusion**= Neurons are very important for your body. As you read you can see what they do and what their functions are. If you want to have a little fun and quiz yourself, then every time your body does some kind of motion, think about what neuron it is and what they are doing in your body right now.

=Reference=

“Biology for kids: nervous system.” Ducksters. Technological Solutions, 19 Dec. 2014. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. . “the brain from top to bottom.” Neuron. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2015. . The neuron. Dr. C. George Boeree, 2015. Web. 23 Jan. 2015. . Padilla, Michael J., et al. Prentice Hall Science Explorer. Boston: Pearson, 2009. Print.