Briefly explain how one neuron sends a message to another neuron. Be sure to include a description of the roles that the various structures of the neuron play in communicating neural messages.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

When neurons are at rest, they have a negative electrical charge. When an excitatory message is received from another neuron, the neuron becomes more positive. As the charge reaches a critical level of positivity, an action potential occurs and the electrical message travels along the neuron's axon. Once the message passes any point of the axon, that section becomes negatively charged once again, and the neuron is unable to fire again immediately. When a nerve impulse reaches the end of the axon, the terminal buttons on the ends of the axon release neurotransmitters into the synapse. Dendrites of nearby neurons receive messages from the neurotransmitters that "fit" onto their particular receptor sites. If the concentration of excitatory neurotransmitters that have been received is higher, then the neuron fires. If the concentration of inhibitory neurotransmitters that have been received is higher, then the neuron will not fire.