Definition & Meaning of "neuron"

What is a "neuron"?

A neuron, also known as a nerve cell, is a specialized cell that is the fundamental unit of the nervous system. Neurons are responsible for transmitting information throughout the body, allowing us to think, feel, and move. They have a unique structure that includes dendrites, a cell body, and an axon. Dendrites receive signals from other neurons, while the cell body processes this information. The axon, which can be very long, carries electrical impulses away from the cell body and towards other neurons, muscles, or glands. Communication between neurons occurs through synapses, small gaps between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of another.