Nerve Cell

Nerve tissue consists of neurons and a much greater number of glial cells (supporting cells). One of the four basic types of animal tissue, these cells are specialized to detect stimuli, respond quickly and transmit coded information to other cells.
  • Example, the sciatic nerve is actually a bundle of axons from neurons (nerve cells) whose bodies are close to the spinal cord.
  1. Saladin, K. (2014). Anatomy & physiology: The unity of form and function. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, New York. ISBN: 9780073403717
 

Related Terms

  • nerve tissue
  • glial cell
  • neurotransmitter
  • synapse
  • axon
  • dendrite
  • action potential
  • myelin sheath
  • neuromuscular junction
  • neurological disorder

Synonyms

  • nerve cell
  • nerve
  • neurological cell
  • nervous cell
  • neuron