Draw a labelled diagram of the neuron and describe the structure of the neuron in detail.

The brain is the most vital organ of the human body as it controls and coordinates all body functions. The brain is made up of special cells called nerve cells or neurons, which are the structural and functional units of the nervous system.

A neuron has three main parts: cell body, dendrites, and axon.

1. Cell Body (Cyton):
   • The central part of the neuron containing the cytoplasm.
   • It is generally polyhedral (many-sided) in shape.
   • It has special structures called Nissl’s granules, which contain ribosomes that help in protein synthesis.
2. Dendrites:
   • Short, branched extensions arising from the cell body.
   • They receive electrical impulses from other neurons and carry them towards the cell body.
3. Axon:
   • A long, thin fibre extending from the cell body.
   • It ends in synaptic knobs, which release neurotransmitters to pass signals to the next neuron.
   • The axon consists of axoplasm, myelin sheath, neurilemma, and nodes of Ranvier that help in faster transmission of impulses.

In short: Neurons = basic units of the nervous system, and their three parts (cell body, dendrites, and axon) work together to transmit messages throughout the body.