NERVECELLS Meaning and
Definition
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Nerve cells, also known as neurons, are specialized cells that are responsible for transmitting information throughout the nervous system. They are the building blocks of the nervous system and play a vital role in various physiological and cognitive processes.
A nerve cell is composed of three main parts: the cell body, dendrites, and axon. The cell body contains the nucleus of the neuron and other organelles necessary for its function. Dendrites are branch-like structures that receive incoming signals from other neurons or sensory receptors. They act as input sites for information. The axon is a long, thin fiber that carries outgoing signals away from the cell body. It is responsible for transmitting signals to other neurons, muscles, or glands.
Neurons communicate with each other through electrical and chemical signals. When a signal reaches the dendrites, it can either be excitatory, causing the neuron to become more likely to fire, or inhibitory, decreasing the likelihood of firing. If the electrical signal exceeds a certain threshold, an action potential is generated, resulting in the transmission of the signal down the axon.
Nerve cells are highly specialized and vary in shape and function depending on their location in the body. They are responsible for important processes such as sensory perception, motor control, memory, and cognition. Damage or dysfunction of nerve cells can lead to various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or epilepsy.
Etymology of NERVECELLS
The word "nervecells" is a compound noun formed by combining the words "nerve" and "cells".
The word "nerve" originated in Middle English as "nerfe" from the Old French term "nerf" which meant "sinew, tendon". It can be traced back to the Latin word "nervus" with the same meaning.
"Cells" comes from the Latin word "cella" meaning "small room" or "cell". It was later adopted into Old English as "cell" with a similar meaning.
Therefore, the etymology of "nervecells" can be understood as a combination of "nerve", referring to the specialized cells that transmit signals in the body, and "cells", indicating the structural units that make up living organisms.
