The neuron is the basic working unit of the nervous system. It is a specialized cell that is designed to transmit information to other cells across the body. Neurons make up such a large part of the brain, that they are also responsible for learning, reasoning, memory, and perception. The neuron comes from the portion of the body known as the nervous system, which is responsible for the impulses sent throughout the body. The neuron is composed of several parts in its structure and to ensure interneuron communication, it uses neurotransmitters which have a tremendous effect on our mood and behavior.
The neuron is composed of 5 main parts, the cell body, dendrite, the axon, myelin sheath, terminal buttons, all are composed together to form the …show more content…
These neurotransmitters are used by the brain to tell our heart when to beat, our lungs when to breathe, and even our stomach when to digest food. Neurons communicate with one another through their axon terminals. Axon terminals house synaptic vesicles, which contain neurotransmitter suspended in fluid, that cross the fluid-filled gap that is known as the synapse to reach the receptor sites on the opposite neuron. With it fitting into the receptor sites, neurotransmitters open the ion channels to let sodium rush in and activate the next cell to allow impulse so move from one neuron to the next (Ciccarelli & White, 2014). When neurotransmitters are fully functional they are fast and able to send messages throughout the body without any interruptions. However, when things such as alcohol are crossed into the blood stream, the neurotransmitter are affected. In his 2006 publication, “Alcohol, Neurotransmitter Systems, and Behavior,” Garvin Chastain, discusses how alcohol reduces glutamate release in the hippocampus which can result in impairment of spatial memory, and the ineffectiveness at receptors and the reduced transmitter release may produce lack of memory during intoxication. During intoxication the brain and neurons are affected the most, leading to slurred speech, impulsive behavior, and difficulty walking. Neurotransmitters can
The neuron is composed of 5 main parts, the cell body, dendrite, the axon, myelin sheath, terminal buttons, all are composed together to form the …show more content…
These neurotransmitters are used by the brain to tell our heart when to beat, our lungs when to breathe, and even our stomach when to digest food. Neurons communicate with one another through their axon terminals. Axon terminals house synaptic vesicles, which contain neurotransmitter suspended in fluid, that cross the fluid-filled gap that is known as the synapse to reach the receptor sites on the opposite neuron. With it fitting into the receptor sites, neurotransmitters open the ion channels to let sodium rush in and activate the next cell to allow impulse so move from one neuron to the next (Ciccarelli & White, 2014). When neurotransmitters are fully functional they are fast and able to send messages throughout the body without any interruptions. However, when things such as alcohol are crossed into the blood stream, the neurotransmitter are affected. In his 2006 publication, “Alcohol, Neurotransmitter Systems, and Behavior,” Garvin Chastain, discusses how alcohol reduces glutamate release in the hippocampus which can result in impairment of spatial memory, and the ineffectiveness at receptors and the reduced transmitter release may produce lack of memory during intoxication. During intoxication the brain and neurons are affected the most, leading to slurred speech, impulsive behavior, and difficulty walking. Neurotransmitters can