Build a Neuron
Neurons are a specialised cell in the body that send messages around your body. Neurons send electrical signals along their axons, passing chemicals signals between each neuron to pass the message along the gaps between them (synapses). Your neurons make up your nervous system, you have around 86 billion neurons in your brain all working together to help you to move, think and feel.
The parts of a neuron
- The cell body is the main part of the neuron. It contains the nucleus, which holds the cells DNA.
- Dendrites are branch like structures that extend from the cell body, they receive signals from other nearby neurons and send them onto the cell body.
- The axon is a long tail like structure extending from the cell body. This carries electrical signals away from the cell body towards the next neuron or muscle. These can be very long to spread these messages, the longest neuron in humans can be over 1 meter long!
- Some axons are covered in a myelin sheath, a protective jacket that helps to speed up the signals moving along the axon.
- The branches at the end of the axon are called axon terminals these release chemical signals into the synapse (the tiny gap between neurons) to continue the message onto the next neuron.
Here you will find instructions on how to make your own neuron from pipe cleaners
Making your neurons
You will need:
- At least 7 pipe cleaners
- Take 1 pipe cleaner and roll it into a loose ball to make your cell body
- Insert 2 pipe cleaners through the ball to approximately halfway, fold in half and twist the two together to make your axon
- Add 2 more pipe cleaners horizontally to the end of your axon (on the opposite side to your cell body, wrap the bottom of the axon upwards to secure them. Then curl the ends of your two new pipe cleaners to make your axon terminals
- Insert 2-3 more pipe cleaners through the cell body, again to around half way down each pipe cleaner, and curl the ends around your fingers to create the dendrites
Now you have a finished neuron, make more and line them up together to create a mini nervous system.
