Homework question

Question

Neurons are highly specialized cells, in that they conduct electrochemical signals that ultimately affect every organ and muscle within your body. Yet, they have a lot in common with cells outside the central nervous system. Discuss what features/ properties set neurons apart, and discuss what properties they share with cells in every other living tissue.

Answer 1

Neurons have a variety of features that make them similar to cells outside the nervous system. The soma (cell body) of the neuron contains a nucleus, nucleolus, rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, and other organelles that cells outside the nervous system have as well.

The neuron also has a plasma membrane that allows the cell to control the movement of substances into and out of the cell. Like other cells, this membrane is made out of phospholipids with embedded proteins that allow for movement of large and/or charged molecules to cross the membrane. Active and passive transport also takes place in other cells and is one of the ways that the neuron maintains resting potential, reach threshold potential to trigger an action potential or have graded potentials, and reestablish the resting membrane potential.