In a large neuron, the total volume of these processes may be from 100 to 1000 times that of the cell body. The cell bodies are concentrated in areas of gray matter, whereas axons compose the white matter or nerves. Neurons are specialized to react to stimuli received on their dendrites or cell body, to transmit the resulting excitation rapidly to other portions of the cell, including their long axon, and then to pass this signal via their axon to other neurons, muscle cells, and glandular cells. The points of contact between cells, through which this information passes, are called synapses . The individual types of neurons, as well as the means by which they are classified, will be presented in the following Histology Laboratory.
Neurons are excitable cells that are the functional unit of the nervous system.
Functionally, each neuron is an integrator, conductor and transmitter of coded information. Neurons are specialized to react to stimuli received on their dendrites or cell body, to transmit the resulting excitation rapidly to other portions of the cell, including their long axon, and then to pass this signal via their axon to other neurons, muscle cells, and glandular cells. The points of contact between cells, through which this information passes, are called synapses. All of the little black dots on the surface of this neuronal cell body and processes are synapses, showing the HUGE number of synapses that are present, and the HUGE amount of information that the neuron integrates and processes. Neurons communicate with each other and with effector cells by means of synapses.