Cell Specialization

Cell Specialization: Nerve Cell

           The nerve cells, also known as neurons, appear as a normal cell, except there are small "tree-like" structures coming out known as dendrites. These dendrites serve as the main way a nerve cell receives signals from its surroundings or other nerve cells, it functions as a "antennae" for the nerve cell. Within the cell, it is similar to a eukaryotic cell in that it has: a nucleus, nucleolus, ribosomes, mitochondria, lysosomes, endosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and a Golgi apparatus. Axons extend from the cell itself, and send signals to other nuerons. Each axon is wrapped in a connective tissue sheath called endoneurium, or myelin sheath, which protects the cell and helps it increase the speed of the communication within the body.
           
             The nerve cell has many different functions within the body as it sends messages to the brain, allows us to react to stimulus, carries messages from other neurons to the main cell body, control of both muscles and glands, and mental activity. This "stimulus" that the nerve cells react to can be both chemical and mechanical including: light, touch, and temperature. This stimulus causes an electrochemical change to occur in the dendrites.  The nerve cells are classified as nervous tissue, more specifically the tissue that surrounds each nerve cell is known as endonuerium, which protects the cell; perinuerum, which protects and provides support to the nerve fibers; and epinuerium, which is a dense layer of connective tissue which encloses the nerve.

 Sources:
Waymire, Jack C. "Organization of Cell Types (Section 1, Chapter 8) Neuroscience Online: An Electronic Textbook for the Neurosciences | Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy - The University of Texas Medical School at Houston." Organization of Cell Types (Section 1, Chapter 8) Neuroscience Online: An Electronic Textbook for the Neurosciences | Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy - The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2015.
Charand, Ka Xiong. "Nerve Cell." Nerve Cell. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. <http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/biology/nervecell.html>.

Cardoso, Silvia Helena. "Parts of the Nerve Cell and Their Function." Parts of the Nerve Cell and Their Function. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. <http://www.cerebromente.org.br/n07/fundamentos/neuron/parts_i.htm>.

Taylor, Tim. "Nervous System." InnerBody. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. <http://www.innerbody.com/image/nervov.html>