The Functions and Classes of Nerve Cells

What are the nerve cells? 

The first point we must know is what is the definition of nerve cell itself. The nerve cells (neurons) are cells of the nervous system. They are the smallest part of our nervous system that have responsibility for relaying electrical messages to cells and tissues in other organ systems.

Three Parts of Neurons

Nerve cells consist of cell body aka soma, dendrite, and axon. The cell body of neuron consists of  nucleus and cytoplasm. The cytoplasm surrounds the nucleus. Dendrites are the segments of the neuron in the form of short fiber that extends from cell body. They have function to receive and bring the impulse to cell body. Axon (neuritis) is a long fiber that conducts electrical impulses away from neuron's cell body or soma.

The Classes of Neurons

Neurons can be divided into three functional classes. They are unipolar neurons, bipolar neurons, and multipolar neurons. And next, what is the diference between them? To answer that question, lets see this explanation.

1. Unipolar Neurons
   Unipolar neurons are nerve cells that have only one extention connected to the cell body. Unipolar neurons are often used in afferent nervous system function, which involves the senses.
   
   
2. Bipolar Neurons
   Biploar neurons are nerve cells that have two extentions connected to the soma. These cells have two projections and are used in specialized sense detection, such as in smell and sight
   
   
3. Multipolar Neurons
   Multipolar neurons are nerve cells that have many extentions including dendrites and one axon. The dendrites are used to receive pathway and the axon is used to deliver the pathway.

Based on its functions, nerve cells or neurons can be divided into three kinds, they are sensoric nerve cells, motoric nerve cells, and connector nerve cells. By the name, we can guess the functions of them.

1. Sensoric Nerve Cells
   Sensoric nerve cells are associated with sense. These cells have function to receive stimuli from the sensory organ to central nerve.
   
   
2. Motoric Nerve Cells
   Motoric nerve cells are also called actuating nerve cells. These cells correspond to the muscles as movement organ. Motoric nerve cells have function to bring command or response from brain or spinal cord to the muscle or body gland.
   
   
3. Connector Nerve Cells
   Connector (intermediate) nerve cells are nerve cells that have function to continue the stimuli from sensoric nerve cells to motoric nerve cells. These cells can be found in the central nerve.