messages from nerve cells go to the ....... ........ ? please help
Messages from nerve cells, also known as neurons, travel to other nerve cells or target cells within the body. The spaces where these messages are passed from one cell to another are called synapses. Synapses can occur between nerve cells (neurons) or between nerve cells and muscle cells, organ cells, or other target cells.
To understand how messages from nerve cells travel to their destinations, it's helpful to have some knowledge of the nervous system's fundamentals. The nervous system is comprised of two main types of cells: neurons and non-neuronal cells. Neurons are responsible for transmitting and processing signals, while non-neuronal cells provide support and protection to neurons.
When a nerve impulse or message is generated within a neuron, it is transmitted through specialized extensions of the neuron called axons. Axons can vary in length, and they connect the neuron's cell body to other neurons or target cells. Along the axon, electrical signals called action potentials travel rapidly, eventually reaching the axon's terminal end.
At the terminal end of the axon, specialized structures called synaptic terminals or axon terminals are found. These terminals contain tiny sacs called synaptic vesicles, which store chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters. When the electrical signal reaches the axon terminal, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synapse.
The released neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse, which is a small gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrites (branch-like extensions) or cell body of the next neuron. If the neurotransmitters bind to specific receptors on the receiving neuron, they can alter the electrical state of that neuron.
This electrical change in the receiving neuron can either excite or inhibit it, depending on the type and amount of neurotransmitters released. If the receiving neuron is excited sufficiently, it will generate its own electrical signal, known as an action potential, which will travel down its axon, continuing the transmission of the message.
In summary, messages from nerve cells (neurons) are transmitted to other nerve cells or target cells via synapses. The electrical signals generated within neurons are transmitted along axons and reach the axon terminals, where neurotransmitters are released into the synapse. These neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the receiving neuron, triggering electrical changes and allowing for the continuation of the message.