The abdominal wall reflex is an intrinsic reflex of the human body that leads to involuntary contraction of the abdominal muscles. The function of the abdominal wall reflex is to protect the abdominal muscle from passive overstretching, thereby preventing damage to it. Its absence may indicate damage to the pyramidal tract, for example, as a … Abdominal Wall Reflex: Function, Tasks, Role & Diseases
The branch-like and multiply branched cytoplasmic processes of a nerve cell (neuron), through which information is received and impulses are transmitted to the body, is referred to in technical language as the dendrite. This serves to receive electrical stimuli and transmits them to the cell body (soma) of the nerve cell. What is a dendrite? … Dendrite: Structure, Function & Diseases
Myelin sheath is the term used to describe the covering of the neurites of a nerve cell, which can be up to one meter long. The myelin sheath protects the nerve fiber, insulates it electrically, and allows much faster transmission speeds than nonmyelinated nerve fibers. Myelin sheaths are composed of special lipids, phospholipids, and structural … Myelin Sheath: Structure, Function & Diseases
Since the end of the 20th century, it has been known that the brain is capable of forming new cells even in adulthood through neurogenesis. Accordingly, neurogenesis is the formation of new neurons from progenitor and stem cells, which occurs both during embryogenesis and in the adult nervous system. What is neurogenesis? Neurogenesis is the … Neurogenesis: Function, Tasks, Role & Diseases
An action potential is a short-term change in membrane potential. Action potentials typically arise at the axon hillock of a neuron and are the prerequisite for stimulus transmission. What is the action potential? Action potentials typically arise at the axon hillock of a nerve cell and are the prerequisite for stimulus transmissions. The action potential … Action Potential: Function, Tasks, Role & Diseases
Neurite is the term used to describe the cell extension of a nerve cell through which electrical impulses are transmitted to its environment. If the neurite is also surrounded by “glial cells” that isolate it, it is called an axon. Function and structure A neurite is the extension of a nerve cell, and directs its … Neurite
A Ranvier lacing ring is a ring-shaped interruption of the fat or myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers. In the course of “saltatoric excitation conduction” it serves to increase the speed of nerve conduction. Saltatoric, from Latin: saltare = to jump refers to the “jump” of an action potential that takes place when it encounters a … Ranvier lacing ring
Spinous processes Dendrites that do not have a spinous process are called “smooth” dendrites. They pick up nerve impulses directly. While the dendrites have the spines, the nerve impulses can be absorbed through the spines as well as through the dendrite trunk. The thorns emerge from the dendrites like little mushroom heads. They can increase … Spinous processes | Dendrit
Definition Dendrites are the cytoplasmic extensions of a nerve cell, which usually branch off from the nerve cell body (soma) in a knot-like manner and become more and more finely branched in two parts. They serve to receive electrical stimuli from upstream nerve cells via synapses and transmit them to the soma. The dendrites also … Dendrit
Brodmann areas are a division of the human cerebral cortex based on cellular architecture. Areas with the same cellular structure form a Brodmann area. The brain is divided into 52 Brodmann areas. What is a Brodmann area? The brain of all living things appears as a monotonous and fatty mass, therefore white in color. Although … Brodmanns Area: Structure, Function & Diseases
Synapses are the junctions between nerve cells and sensory, muscle, or glandular cells, or between two or more nerve cells. They serve to transmit signals and stimuli. Stimulus transmission is mostly chemical by means of neurotransmitters. There are also synapses that transmit their action potential directly by electrical means, which makes the transmission of stimuli … Synapses: Structure, Function & Diseases
Skeletal muscles and visceral smooth muscles are controlled by motoneurons that descend efferently from the CNS. Thus, motoneurons are responsible for reflex motor function as well as overall voluntary motor function. Damage to the central motoneurons manifests symptomatically in so-called pyramidal tract signs. What are motor neurons? Motoneurons are motor neurons in the central nervous … Motoneuron: Structure, Function & Diseases
