The cells of the nervous system

(This image is taken from the site: http://nervosano.it/sistema-nervoso).

Nervous tissue is composed of cells. Nerve cells are functionally independent and communicate via specialized contacts called synapses (Parves, Augustine, Fitzpatrick, Hall, LaMantia, White, Neuroscience, Sinauer Associates Inc).

Nerve cells have three components: the cell body, dendrites and axons. Some nerve cells may, however, be devoid of axons. Other nerve cells can be free of dendrites.

We can divide the cells of the nervous tissue in two categories: the nerve cells or neurons and glial cells.

The nerve cells have the function of transmitting the electrical signal over long distances. Glial cells instead have the function of supporting the production of electrical signals. They also help to repair the nervous system.

The cells of the nervous tissue are different from other cells in the body. Some subcellular components have in fact a different location. The mitochondria, for example, is predominantly localized in the synapses.

Some molecular components of the cytoskeleton, also, have special tasks for the development and functioning of neurons and glial cells (Parves, Augustine, Fitzpatrick, Hall, LaMantia, White, Neuroscience, Sinauer Associates Inc).