Describe the main components of a neuron and explain the function of two of them.

The neuron contains various components that have functions that are responsible for processing and transmission of data in the nervous system. The cell body is also
called the soma where the cell body is the part of the neuron that consist the nucleus. The cell body is connected to the axon that sends information to and in from
other neutrons. The cell further sends information to the axon with regards to the type of information being sent (Pinel, Barnes, & Pinel, 2014).

The cell body basically controls the functions of the cell and contains several organelles that assist in the functions, with the nucleus being the most important. The
nucleus is the bearer of the cell’s DNA, and is the regulator of the cell’s processes (Pinel, Barnes, & Pinel, 2014). The DNA contains all the cells information that
directs its activities while the cell body produces the proteins needed by the axons, dendrites and the synaptic terminals. The organelles contained in the cell body
include; the Golgi apparatus – the membrane responsible for packaging proteins and peptides into vesicles; the mitochondria – provides energy in form of adenosine
triphosphate, the secretory granules; and rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum- transports material within the cytoplasm and contains ribosomes for rough ER while
the Smooth ER does not and the ribosomes (Arnold, Daniel, Jensen, McDaniel, & Marsh, 2016). The amount of cell organelles in a cell body is determinant on the specific
function of the cell. Notably, the cell body count is a nonfunctional centrosome since the neurons do not replicate, for this reason the number of cell body present at
birth remain the same until death. The cell bodies are present in the spinal cord and the brain’s grey matter in the central nervous system (Pinel, Barnes, & Pinel,
2014).

The Dendrites are treelike branching attached to the cell body of the neuron and their main function is collecting signals (information) from neuron to neuron
terminus, basically they send stimuli for the short cytoplasmic processes in the cell body known as the receptive organ. The messages received and transmitted by the
dendrites both chemical and electrical can be either excitatory or inhibitory (Arnold, Daniel, Jensen, McDaniel, & Marsh, 2016).. They are usually covered by an
immense structure of synapses that aid in information passage. Dendrites contain the dendritic membranes under the synapses that contain specialized protein molecules
called receptors that perceive neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft (Pinel, Barnes, & Pinel, 2014). The branching of the dendrites in the neuron is dependent on the
type and nature of the nervous system, whether it is mature, growing or retracting; this characteristic of dendrites is mostly exhibited in larger animals.
Essentially, dendrites are known to be determinants of learning and an enriched environment. In addition, according to Pinel, Barnes, and Pinel (2014), the growth of
dendrites has been known to be affected by alcohol in terms of functionality, while senility is also associated with shortening and cumulative number of dendrites
branches in elderly people. The micro thick structures are about 5 – 10 µ in thickness that further decreases due to subsequent branching (Arnold, Daniel, Jensen,
McDaniel, & Marsh, 2016).

References
Arnold, K. M., Daniel, D. B., Jensen, J. L., McDaniel, M. A., & Marsh, E. J. (2016). Structure building predicts grades in college psychology and biology. Applied
Cognitive Psychology, 30(3), 454-459.

Pinel, J. P. J., Barnes, S. J., & Pinel, J. P. J. (2014). Introduction