Multiple Select - Choose all that apply: Neurons share major functional characteristics.
What are they?
Group of answer choices
excitability
absorption
conductivity
secretion
contraction
excitability
conductivity
The major functional characteristics shared by neurons are:
- Excitability: Neurons are capable of responding to stimuli and generating electrical signals.
- Conductivity: Neurons are able to transmit these electrical signals, called action potentials, along their length.
- Secretion: Neurons are able to release neurotransmitters, chemical messengers that allow them to communicate with other neurons or target cells.
- Contraction: Neurons are not capable of contraction.
To determine which characteristics apply to neurons, let's examine the options one by one:
1. Excitability: Neurons are highly excitable cells, meaning they can receive and respond to various stimuli, such as electrical or chemical signals.
2. Absorption: Absorption is not a major functional characteristic of neurons. Neurons primarily transmit information via electrical impulses rather than absorbing substances.
3. Conductivity: This is a major functional characteristic of neurons. After receiving a signal, neurons can conduct electrical impulses along their length, allowing information to be transmitted from one part of the neuron to another.
4. Secretion: While some neurons secrete specialized chemical messengers called neurotransmitters at their endings to communicate with other cells, secretion is not considered a major functional characteristic of neurons.
5. Contraction: Contractions are associated with muscle cells, not neurons. Neurons do not possess the ability to contract.
Based on the above explanations, the major functional characteristics that apply to neurons are excitability and conductivity.