11/09/2026
🧠 BIOLOGY — NEURONS
Ballah G . Forkpa Foundation| Learn Today. Lead Tomorrow. 🌟
Topic: Neurons
Level: High School
🎯 Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
Define a neuron.
Identify the main parts of a neuron.
Explain the functions of each part.
Describe how neurons transmit nerve impulses.
Distinguish between sensory, relay, and motor neurons.
🧠 1. What Is a Neuron?
A neuron is a specialized cell that receives, processes, and transmits electrical and chemical signals in the nervous system.
👉 Think of a neuron as the body's communication wire. It carries messages between the brain, spinal cord, sense organs, muscles, and glands.
🔬 2. Main Parts of a Neuron
Part Function
Cell body Contains the nucleus and controls cell activities
Dendrites Receive signals from other cells
Axon Carries nerve impulses away from the cell body
Myelin sheath Insulates the axon and speeds up impulses
Axon terminals Pass signals to the next cell
🧠 Memory Trick
D-A-T = Dendrites, Axon, and Terminals
Dendrites receive, Axon carries, and Terminals transmit.
⚡ 3. How Does a Neuron Send a Message?
The basic pathway is:
Stimulus, Dendrites, Cell body, Axon, Axon terminals and Next cell
For example:
🔥 Touching a hot object
🫳sensory neurons detect the heat
🫳 nerve impulses travel toward the CNS
🫳 the brain/spinal cord processes the information
🫳 motor neurons send instructions
🫳 muscles contract
🫳 your hand moves away.
🧬 4. Types of Neurons
1️⃣ Sensory Neuron
Carries impulses from receptors to the central nervous system (CNS).
Receptor and CNS
2️⃣ Relay Neuron
Found mainly in the brain and spinal cord. It connects sensory neurons to motor neurons.
Sensory & Relay & Motor
3️⃣ Motor Neuron
Carries impulses from the CNS to effectors, such as muscles or glands.
CNS Effector
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Dendrites carry impulses away from the cell body.
✅ Dendrites generally receive signals.
❌ The axon carries impulses toward the