Chemical Jump

Chemical "Jump": How nerve impulses jump from one neuron to another

The nervous system is one of the most complex and amazing systems in our body. It is responsible for transmitting information from the brain and spinal cord to various parts of the body and back. However, how does this information transfer between neurons? The answer to this question lies in the chemical “leap”.

Nerve impulses are transmitted through the axons of neurons, which are conductors of nerve impulses. Axons are covered by three different sheaths: the myelin sheath, the neurilema, and the sheath externa. The myelin sheath plays an important role in accelerating the transmission of nerve impulses, and the neurilema and outer sheath serve to protect the axon.

But how do nerve impulses jump from one neuron to another? For this purpose, a system of nerve contacts, or synapses, is used. Neurons contain a substance called a neurotransmitter, which, when an impulse is transmitted, is released into the space between neurons and acts as a chemical messenger. Neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the dendrites of a nearby neuron and excite it, which leads to the transmission of a nerve impulse.

The peripheral nervous system consists of unilateral nerves. Sensory nerves transmit body sensations to the nerve centers, and motor nerves carry brain commands throughout the body. In addition, there are mixed nerves that contain both sensory and motor nerve fibers.

The endings of sensory nerves are found mainly in the sensory organs and skin, and the motor neurons of the motor nerves are localized in the brain and spinal cord. The process of transmitting nerve impulses across synapses is a key mechanism in the functioning of the nervous system, and understanding it can help in the development of new treatments for nerve diseases.

Thus, chemical hopping is an important mechanism for transmitting nerve impulses between neurons. It allows the nervous system to quickly and accurately transmit information throughout the body, which is key to the proper functioning of our bodies.