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===Basic Nerve Structure===
 
===Basic Nerve Structure===
 
The basic structure of a nerve is that of a cell body, or soma, which has a single long nerve fibre, or axon, attached at one end to the cell body and at the other end to another nerve cell body or to a structure requiring nerve impulses such as skeletal muscle. The interface between two nerves or a nerve and another structure is called the nerve synapse. The cell body of the nerve itself also contains numerous dendrites which increase it's surface area enabling other nerve axons to connect with the cell body. The cell body usually has connections with many other axons from other nerve cells with many synapses on the cell body. The axon of the nerve cell is usually surrounded by some form of insulating protection, or myelination. This protective layer is called the myelin sheath.  
 
The basic structure of a nerve is that of a cell body, or soma, which has a single long nerve fibre, or axon, attached at one end to the cell body and at the other end to another nerve cell body or to a structure requiring nerve impulses such as skeletal muscle. The interface between two nerves or a nerve and another structure is called the nerve synapse. The cell body of the nerve itself also contains numerous dendrites which increase it's surface area enabling other nerve axons to connect with the cell body. The cell body usually has connections with many other axons from other nerve cells with many synapses on the cell body. The axon of the nerve cell is usually surrounded by some form of insulating protection, or myelination. This protective layer is called the myelin sheath.  
===Soma===
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===Soma (Cell Body)===
 
The soma, or cell body is the central part of the neuron and contains the nucleus of the cell, the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes and golgi apparatus. Similar processes that would be undertaken by any cell occur within the soma and due to the organelles it contains, the soma is where most protein synthesis occurs.
 
The soma, or cell body is the central part of the neuron and contains the nucleus of the cell, the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes and golgi apparatus. Similar processes that would be undertaken by any cell occur within the soma and due to the organelles it contains, the soma is where most protein synthesis occurs.
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===Dendrites===
 
===Dendrites===
 
The neuron's dendrites are effectively branching extensions of the cell body. Collectively, these branching structures of the dendrites is known as the "dendritic tree". The dendritic tree is the site where input to the neuron occurs via synapses with axons from other nerve cells. In most cases nerve impulses travel from other nerve cells to the cell body and are then conducted along the nerve cell's own axon to other cell bodies. However, dendrites themselves are unable to propagate nerve impulses in the manner of axons as dendrites are unable to secrete [[Neurotransmitters_-_Anatomy_%26_Physiology|neurotransmitters]]. Similarly axons do not possess the chemoreceptors that are found within the dendrites and are therefore unable to receive nerve impulses. Nerve impulses are therefore conducted in one direction only.
 
The neuron's dendrites are effectively branching extensions of the cell body. Collectively, these branching structures of the dendrites is known as the "dendritic tree". The dendritic tree is the site where input to the neuron occurs via synapses with axons from other nerve cells. In most cases nerve impulses travel from other nerve cells to the cell body and are then conducted along the nerve cell's own axon to other cell bodies. However, dendrites themselves are unable to propagate nerve impulses in the manner of axons as dendrites are unable to secrete [[Neurotransmitters_-_Anatomy_%26_Physiology|neurotransmitters]]. Similarly axons do not possess the chemoreceptors that are found within the dendrites and are therefore unable to receive nerve impulses. Nerve impulses are therefore conducted in one direction only.
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