Neuron Systems

Definition

Neuron systems are networks of nerve cells, or neurons, that work together to transmit information throughout the body. They form the basic units of the nervous system.

Analogy

Think of neuron systems like a city's transportation system. Just as buses and trains carry people from one place to another, neurons transport messages across different parts of the body. The better the transportation system (or neuron system), the more efficiently information can be conveyed.

Related terms

Action Potential: This is like a green light in our transportation analogy - it's an electrical charge that travels down a neuron, signaling other neurons to pass on a message.

Synapse: This is similar to a bus stop or train station where passengers (or signals) get off one vehicle (neuron) and wait to board another.

Neurotransmitters: These are like tickets for our transportation system - they're chemicals that transmit signals across synapses from one neuron to another.