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describe the anatomy of the basic unit of the nervous system, the neuron. Include each part of the neuron and a general overview of electrical impulse conduction, the pathway it travels, and the net result at the termination of the impulse. Be specific and provide examples.
Answer the following (listing is acceptable for these questions):
What are the major components that make up the subcortical structures?
Which component plays a role in learning, memory, and addiction?
What are the two key neurotransmitters located in the nigral striatal region of the brain that play a major role in motor control?
Explain how glia cells function in the central nervous system. Be specific and provide examples.
The synapse is an area between two neurons that allows for chemical communication. +400 words, citation in text is APA
The basic unit of the nervous system is the neuron, which consists of three main parts: the dendrites, cell body, and axon. The dendrites are extensions of the cell body that receive information from other neurons in order to transmit an electrical impulse down its length. The cell body contains organelles such as mitochondria and nuclei which support cellular metabolism while also integrating incoming signals before they are transmitted further down the neuron. The axon is a long extension off of the cell body which carries these electrical impulses away from it, usually to another neuron or muscle fiber. Once an electrical impulse reaches the end of an axon, or terminal bouton, neurotransmitters called synapses will be released across a small gap between two neurons to affect their postsynaptic partner. This process begins when an action potential arrives at a site on one side and causes voltage-gated ion channels to open: sodium ions rush into the terminal bouton causing depolarization, triggering more ion channels down its length until it arrives back at resting potential at its destination.
The subcortical structures include several major components including hypothalamus, thalamus, basal ganglia (and associated structures) and limbic system (which includes hippocampus). These areas play important roles in regulating our physiology – primarily hunger/thirst; sleep/wake cycle; hormone regulation; emotion control; learning/memory formation ; decision making and addiction processes.
Within the basal ganglia region there are two key neurotransmitters that have been found to have a major role in motor control – GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) and glutamate (a type of amino acid). Both serve as inhibitory or excitatory agents respectively when they bind with their respective receptors located throughout this region allowing various neural pathways to be activated or inhibited creating different actions depending on what is stimulated within each pathway.
Glia cells function as support cells throughout much of our central nervous system helping supply nutrients like glucose and oxygen necessary for neuronal functions along with controlling K+ concentration levels within synapses among many other tasks such as contributing insulation for wiring used during nerve impulses known as myelination . They also play a vital role in forming synaptic connections by providing scaffolding where neurons can attach so communication can take place amongst them once triggered by some stimuli . Glia cells contain processes called astrocytes that actively participate in brain development by guiding growth cone paths towards target destinations specified during early stages . Moreover glial cells help clean up debris left behind after neuronal death through phagocytosis , thus preventing inflammation caused by foreign bodies remaining near sensitive regions like brainstems or spinal cords reducing risk for serious damage resulting from infection due to bacteria accumulation [citation].