Neuron+-+ML

= Introduction =

You’ve got your cell phone in your pocket, it buzzes, you quickly pull it out of your pocket and read your latest text message. Do you realize without neurons you would not be able to perform these actions. Many sensory neurons are involved in this action. The entire nervous system contains billions of neurons, tens of billions in the brain alone. Each neuron carries a tiny electrical signal. The structure of a neuron enables it to carry nerve impulses. There are three types of neurons in your body, sensory, interneuron and motor neurons. Neurons carry information throughout the human body. When neurons in your body fail and no longer receive signals it can be very harmful to your body and even fatal.

toc = What is the Structure of Neuron? =

Neurons contain organelles common to many other cells, such as a nucleus and mitochondria. They also have more specialized structures, including **__dendrites__**, These structures branch out like a tree and serve as the main part for receiving signals from an other nerve cells, and **__axons__**, the main conducting unit of the neuron. The nerve cell is shaped a bit like a spider with long strand of spider silk attached to it, this is an axon. The body of the nerve cell has fibers sticking out of it, these are the dendrites. Nerve cells are meant to last for life, they do not reproduce. This is why it is important not to drink alcohol, take drugs or ride a bike or skateboard without a helmet. Once a brain cell is damaged or destroyed, it is gone forever.


 * This is what a neuron looks like.**

What did the neuron say to the glea cell? “ Thanks for the support “ ( Max’s Jokes )
 * Glia ** cells, sometimes called neuroglia or simply **glia ** (Greek γλία and γλοία "glue"; pronounced in English as either /ˈɡliːə/ or /ˈɡlaɪə/), are non-neuronal cells that maintain homeostasis, form myelin, and provide support and protection for neurons in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system.

= Different Types of Neurons. =

__Sensory neurons__

Allows us to receive the information from the outside world through our senses, the sensory neuron involves the senses of touch, pain, vision, hearing and taste.

__Interneurons__

From the __sensory neuron__, the nerve impulse passes to __interneurons__ in the brain. Your brain interprets the impulse from many interneurons and makes you realize that the phone is ringing. Your brain also decides if you should answer the phone.

__Motor Neuron__

Impulses then travel along thousands of motor neurons. The motor neurons send the impulses to the muscles. The muscles carry out the response, and you reach for the phone.

= How Does a Neuron Work? =

Neurons have a highly developed communication mechanism. **Dendrites**, short branches from the cell body, receives messages from other neurons and transmit the information as electrical signals to the neuron’s cell body and axon. Then the axon, which extends from the cell body in a single long branch, that can reach up to several feet in length, carries the messages to the other cells. Nerve cells are separated by **__synapses__**, gaps in the cell, the axon must transform the electrical impulse running down it into a chemical neurotransmitter, which crosses the gap and activates the dendrites of the next neuron. = media type="youtube" key="vyNkAuX29OU" width="560" height="315" = =Neurons: What do they do? An Animated Guide= This video will show how neurons travel through the body. = = = = = When Neurons Malfunction = = = =** ALS DISEASE  **=

ALS disease causes motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord to shrink and go away, muscles no longer receive signals to move. Muscles become smaller and weaker. The body becomes paralyzed which causes the muscles not to work.

Effects Or Symptoms

Muscle weakness especially in the arms and legs, tripping or falling a lot, dropping things, having trouble speaking, cramping or twitching muscles.

Treatment

There is no cure for ALS. There is medicine that can control the symptoms. Physical therapy can help people with muscle lost.

According to Shaheen El Lakhan, MD, Phd, MEd, MS in the article Genetic Basis to ALS on the web site Brainblogger.com, when asked if ALS was inheritable, he answered, “We believe about 10% of ALS cases had a genetic origin- there was a family history of the disease. The remaining 90% or so were considered “sporadic.”

= Conclusion =

The internet lets people gather information from anywhere in the world with the click of a button. Think of the nervous system as a communication network but more efficient than the internet.

The nervous system receives information about what is happening inside and outside your body. It also is in charge of the way your body responds to this information. Without your nervous system you could not move, think, feel pain or enjoy your favorite food.

= References =
 * 1) =Prentice Hall Science Explorer, Human Body and Health=
 * 2) ** Kidshealth.org **
 * 3) ** Invisible World Cells, Genes, and Chromosomes **
 * 4) ** Neurons and what they do ( Youtube ) **