Expert: Walter Hintz - 3/21/2008

Question
QUESTION: what is a neron and where are they located?

Thank You.

ANSWER: A nerve cell and they are located all throughout the body

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QUESTION: how does this nerve cell function? I was under the inpresion they where only in the brain and spinal cord it's good to know that piece of information that they are all throughout the body. Could it be that I remember the brain and the spinal cord only because it's from there that the commands come from?

Thank you for your help.

Answer
The nerves carry all information to and from the central nervous system. Central nervous system consists of the brain and cord. All other nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system.
 If I prick you with a pin  a sensory nerve carries a message to the brain where you feel pain. Another message from the brain carries a message along a motor nerve causing you to withdraw from the pin prick.  The way in which the impulse works is complicated but involves a movement of positive ions across the cell membrane.