Short description of nerve cells?

Question

can someone give me a very short, fairly simple description of a nerve cell? its for homework, a powerpoint presentation. No more than a few sentences please! Thanks x

Answer 1

nerve cells are electrically excitable cells in the nervous system that process and transmit information. Nerve cells are the core components of the brain, and spinal cord in vertebrates and ventral nerve cord in invertebrates, and peripheral nerves.

Answer 2

Nerve cells (neurons) are specialised to recieve and send electrical impulses.  They have branches at one end for receiving stimulation from other neurons (called dendrites) and a long process to pass it along (called the axon), which is sometimes insulated (with myelin).  The terminal at the end is specialised to send messages on to the next neuron by secreting chemicals (called neurotransmitters).

Answer 3

Nerve cells (neurones) are long cells which transmit electrical impulses.

Three types:

Sensory neurones transfer impulses from sensory organs to the central nervous system.

Association neurones transfer impulses within the CNS.

Motor neurones transfer impulses from the CNS to effectors ie muscles or glands which carry out the appropriate response ie contraction or release of a hormone.

Nerve cells have three component parts:

Dendrites pick up electrical impulses and pass them to the cell body which contains the nucleus. Tha axon carries the impulse away from the cell body and passes it on to the next neurone or muscle.

Hope this helps!