Lesson 6: Nerve Cell

Objectives:

1. identify different parts and

functions of nerve cell; and
2. cite some consequences of
neurons death and damage.
If you lost or damaged your
sense of sight, what would be
very hard for you to do? What
would be more challenging for
you to do but you could still do
it?
Activity Time
What is synapse?  Neurons communicate with one another at junctions
called synapses. At a synapse, one neuron sends a message to a target
neuron—another cell. Most synapses are chemical; these synapses
communicate using chemical messengers. Other synapses are electrical; in
these synapses, ions flow directly between cells.
What are neurotransmitters? Neurotransmitters are chemical
messengers that your body can't function without. Their job is to carry
chemical signals (“messages”) from one neuron (nerve cell) to the next
target cell. The next target cell can be another nerve cell, a muscle cell
or a gland.
Three classifications of neurons according to the direction of the message or impulse they carry.
 Motor neurons make the connection
between the brain and muscles
throughout the body.
 Sensory neurons are neurons that
let us feel sensation.
 Interneurons are the nerve cells that
connect motor neurons to other
motor neurons and sensory neurons
to other sensory neurons.
Are you experiencing numbness in your hands or sometimes in your legs? What do
you think is the cause of numbness?

Signs of Nerve Damage

1. Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
2. Feeling like you're wearing a tight glove or sock.
3. Muscle weakness, especially in your arms or
legs.
4. Regularly dropping objects that you're holding.
5. Sharp pains in your hands, arms, legs, or feet.
6. A buzzing sensation that feels like a mild
electrical shock.
 Can damaged neurons be repaired?
Damaged nerve cells in a finger will
regrow, but those in the spinal cord
do not. Nerve cells in the spinal
cord still can grow even many
weeks after an injury. However, the
regeneration is prevented by scar
tissue created after the injury
occurs.