Each neuron has a cell body, an axon , and many dendrites . Neurons transmit nerve messages. Glial cells are in direct contact with neurons and often surround them. The neuron is the functional unit of the nervous system. While variable in size and shape, all neurons have three parts.
Dendrites receive information from another cell and transmit the message to the cell body.
The cell body contains the nucleus, mitochondria and other organelles typical of eukaryotic cells. The axon conducts messages away from the cell body. Image from W.H. Freeman and Sinauer Associates, used by permission. Histology resources from University of Kansas Medical School. On-line Histology Lab Orientation Online lectures and quizzes for the introductory histology as well as more advanced histology students.