Neurons transmit signals through structures called synapses. There are two main types of synapses - chemical and electrical. In a chemical synapse, signals pass via neurotransmitter molecules released by the presynaptic neuron into the synaptic cleft. This can cause an excitatory postsynaptic potential in the postsynaptic neuron. Electrical synapses allow direct ion flow between neurons through gap junctions, allowing faster signal transmission but in both directions. Neurons are classified based on their structure and function, with motor neurons carrying signals from the CNS to effectors and sensory neurons carrying signals to the CNS.

1. Neurons

2.  Neuron or nerve cell is defined as the structural and
functional unit of nervous system. it is different from
other cells by two ways:
 1. Neuron has branches or processes called axon and
dendrites
 2. Neuron does not have centrosome. So, it cannot
undergo division.
 CLASSIFICATION OF NEURON
Neurons are classified by three different methods.
A. Depending upon the number of poles
B. Depending upon the function
C. Depending upon the length of axon.

3.  DEPENDING UPON THE NUMBER OF
POLES
Based on the number of poles from which the nerve
fibers arise, neurons are divided into three types:
1. Unipolar neurons
2. Bipolar neurons
3. Multipolar neurons.

4. 1. Unipolar Neurons
 Unipolar neurons are the neurons that have only one pole.
From a single pole, both axon and dendrite arise. This
type of nerve cells is present only in embryonic stage in
human beings.
2. Bipolar Neurons
 Neurons with two poles are known as bipolar neurons.
Axon arises from one pole and dendrites arise from the
other pole.
3. Multipolar Neurons
 Multipolar neurons are the neurons which have many
poles. One of the poles gives rise to axon and all other
poles give rise to dendrites

6. DEPENDING UPON THE FUNCTION
 On the basis of function, nerve cells are classified into
two types:
 1. Motor or efferent neurons
 2. Sensory or afferent neurons.
1. Motor or Efferent Neurons
Motor or efferent neurons are the neurons which carry
the motor impulses from central nervous system to
peripheral effector organs like muscles, glands, blood
vessels, etc. Generally, each motor neuron has a long
axon and short dendrites.

7. 2. Sensory or Afferent Neurons
Sensory or afferent neurons are the neurons which carry
the sensory impulses from periphery to central nervous
system.
Generally, each sensory neuron has a short axon and
long dendrites.

8. DEPENDING UPON THE LENGTH OF AXON
 Depending upon the length of axon, neurons are divided
into two types:
1. Golgi type I neurons
2. Golgi type II neurons.
1. Golgi Type I Neurons
Golgi type I neurons have long axons. Cell body of these
neurons is in different parts of central nervous system and
their axons reach the remote peripheral organs.
2. Golgi Type II Neurons
Neurons of this type have short axons. These neurons are
present in cerebral cortex and spinal cord.

9. MYELIN SHEATH
 Myelin sheath is a thick lipoprotein sheath that
insulates the myelinated nerve fiber. Myelin sheath is
not a continuous sheath. It is absent at regular
intervals.
 The area where myelin sheath is absent is called node
of Ranvier. Segment of the nerve fiber between two
nodes is called internode. Myelin sheath is responsible
for white color of nerve fibers.

10. Functions of Myelin Sheath
1. Faster conduction
Myelin sheath is responsible for faster conduction of
impulse through the nerve fibers.
In myelinated nerve fibers, the impulses jump from one
node to another node.
This type of transmission of impulses is called saltatory
conduction .
2. Insulating capacity
Myelin sheath has a high insulating capacity. Because
of this quality, myelin sheath restricts the nerve impulse
within single nerve fiber and prevents the stimulation
of neighboring nerve fibers.

11. Receptors

12. DEFINITION
 Receptors are sensory (afferent) nerve endings that
terminate in periphery as bare unmyelinated endings
or in the form of specialized capsulated structures.
 Receptors give response to the stimulus. When
stimulated, receptors produce a series of impulses,
which are transmitted through the afferent nerves.
 Biological Transducers
 Actually receptors function like a transducer.
Transducer is a device, which converts one form of
energy into another. So, receptors are often defined as
the biological transducers, which convert (transducer)
various forms of energy (stimuli) in the environment
into action potentials in nerve fiber.

13. CLASSIFICATION OF RECEPTORS
 Generally, receptors are classified into two types:
 A. Exteroceptors
 B. Interoceptors

14. EXTEROCEPTORS
 Exteroceptors are the receptors, which give response to
stimuli arising from outside the body.
1. Cutaneous Receptors or Mechanoreceptors
 Receptors situated in the skin are called the cutaneous
receptors. Cutaneous receptors are also called
mechanoreceptors because of their response to mechanical
stimuli such as touch, pressure and pain. Touch and pressure
receptors give response to vibration also.
2. Chemoreceptors
 Receptors, which give response to chemical stimuli, are
called the chemoreceptors.
3. Telereceptors
 Telereceptors are the receptors that give response to stimuli
arising away from the body. These receptors are also called
the distance receptors

15. INTEROCEPTORS
 Interoceptors are the receptors, which give
response to stimuli arising from within the body.
1. Visceroceptors
 Receptors situated in the viscera are called
visceroceptors.
2. Proprioceptors
 Proprioceptors are the receptors, which give
response to change in the position of different parts
of the body.

19. PROPERTIES OF RECEPTORS
„1. SPECIFICITY OF RESPONSE – MÜLLER LAW
 Specificity of response or Müller law refers to the
response given by a particular type of receptor to a
specific sensation. For example, pain receptors give
response only to pain sensation. In addition, each type of
sensation depends upon the part of the brain in which its
fibers terminate.
 Specificity of response is also called Müller’s doc-trine of
specific nerve energies.

20. 2. ADAPTATION – SENSORYADAPTATION
 Adaptation is the decline in discharge of sensory
impulses when a receptor is stimulated
continuously with constant strength. It is also
called sensory adaptation or desensitization.
 Depending upon adaptation time, receptors are
divided into two types:
 i. Phasic receptors, which get adapted rapidly.
Touch and pressure receptors are the phasic
receptors
 ii. Tonic receptors, which adapt slowly. Muscle
spindle, pain receptors and cold receptors are the
tonic receptors

21. 3. RESPONSE TO INCREASE IN STRENGTH
OF STIMULUS – WEBERFECHNER LAW
 During the stimulation of a receptor, if the
response given by the receptor is to be doubled,
the strength of stimulus must be increased 100
times. This phenomenon is called WeberFechner
law, which states that intensity of response
(sensation) of a receptor is directly proportional to
logarithmic increase in the intensity of stimulus.
 Derivation of Weber-Fechner Law
 WeberFechner law is derived as follows:
R = k log S
 Where,R= Intensity of response (sensation)
k = Constant S = Intensity of stimulus

22. 4. SENSORY TRANSDUCTION
 Sensory transduction in a receptor is a process by
which the energy (stimulus) in the environment is
converted into electrical impulses (action potentials) in
nerve fiber (transduction = conversion of one form of
energy into another).
 When a receptor is stimulated, it gives response by
sending information about the stimulus to CNS. Series
of events occur to carry out this function such as the
development of receptor potential in the receptor cell
and development of action potential in the sensory
nerve.
 Sensory transduction varies depending upon the type of
receptor. For example, the chemoreceptor converts
chemical energy into action potential in the sensory
nerve fiber. Touch receptor converts mechanical energy
into action potential in the sensory nerve fiber.

23. 5. RECEPTOR POTENTIAL
Definition
 Receptor potential is a nonpropagated
transmembrane potential difference that develops
when a receptor is stimulated. It is also called
generator potential.
 Receptor potential is short lived and hence, it is
called transient receptor potential.
 Receptor potential is not action potential. It is a
graded potential . It is similar to excitatory
postsynaptic potential (EPSP) in synapse, endplate
potential in neuromuscular junction and
electrotonic potential in the nerve fiber.

26.  Generation of Action Potential in the Nerve Fiber
 Receptor potential causes development of a local circuit
of current flow, which spreads along the unmyelinated
part of nerve fiber within the corpuscle.
 When this local circuit of current reaches the first node of
Ranvier within the corpuscle, it causes opening of
voltagegatedn sodium channels and entrance of sodium
ions into the nerve fiber. This leads to the develop ment of
action potential in the nerve fiber

27. 6. LAW OF PROJECTION
 When a sensory pathway from receptor to cerebral cortex
is stimulated on any particular site along its course, the
sensation caused by stimulus is always felt (referred) at the
location of receptor, irrespective ofsite stimulated. This
phenomenon is known as law of projection.
 Examples of Law of Projection
 i. If somesthetic area in right cerebral cortex, which
receives sensation from left hand is stimulated, sensations
are felt in left hand and not in head.
 ii. Sensation complained by amputated patients in the
missing limb (phantom limb) is the best example of law of
projection. For example, if a leg has been amputated, the
cut end heals with scar formation. The cut ends of nerve
fibers are merged within the scar. If the cut end of sensory
fibers are stimulated during movement of thigh, the patient
feels as if the sensation is originating from nonexistent leg.
Sometimes, the patient feels pain in nonexistent limb. This
type of pain is called phantom limb pain.

28. Synapse

29. DEFINITION
 Synapse is the junction between two neurons. It is
not an anatomical continuation. But, it is only a
physiological continuity between two nerve cells.
CLASSIFICATION OF SYNAPSE
 Synapse is classified by two methods:
 A. Anatomical classification
 B. Functional classification.

30. ANATOMICAL CLASSIFICATION
 Usually synapse is formed by axon of one neuron
ending on the cell body, dendrite or axon of the next
neuron. Depending upon ending of axon, synapse is
classified into three types:
1. Axoaxonic synapse in which axon of one neuron
terminates on axon of another neuron
2. Axodendritic synapse in which the axon of one
neuron terminates on dendrite of another neuron
3. Axosomatic synapse in which axon of one neuron
ends on soma (cell body) of another neuron

32. FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
 Functional classification of synapse is on the basis
of mode of impulse transmission.
According to this,
 synapse is classified into two categories:
 1. Electrical synapse
 2. Chemical synapse.
 However, generally the word synapse refers to a chemical
synapse.
1. Electrical Synapse
 Electrical synapse is the synapse in which the physio lo
gical continuity between the presynaptic and the post

33.  synaptic neurons is provided by gap junction between
the two neurons. There is direct exchange of ions
between the two neurons through the gap junction.
Because of this reason, the action potential reaching
the terminal portion of presynaptic neuron directly
enters the postsynaptic neuron.
 Important feature of electrical synapse is that the
synaptic delay is very less because of the direct flow of
current. Moreover, the impulse is transmitted in either
direction through the electrical synapse.
 This type of impulse transmission occurs in some
tissues like the cardiac muscle fibers, smooth muscle
fibers of intestine and the epithelial cells of lens in the
eye.

36. 2. Chemical Synapse
 Chemical synapse is the junction between a nerve
fiber and a muscle fiber or between two nerve fibers,
through which the signals are transmitted by the
release of chemical transmitter. In the chemical
synapse, there is no continuity between the two
neurons because of the presence of a space called
synaptic cleft between the two neurons.
 Action potential reaching the presynaptic terminal
causes release of neurotransmitter substance from the
vesicles of this terminal. Neurotransmitter reaches the
postsynaptic neuron through synaptic cleft and causes
the production of potential change

37. FUNCTIONS OF SYNAPSE
 Main function of the synapse is to transmit the
impulses, i.e. action potential from one neuron to
another. However, some of the synapses inhibit these
impulses. So the impulses are not transmitted to the
postsynaptic neuron.
On the basis of functions, synapses are divided into
two types:
 1. Excitatory synapses, which transmit the impulses
(excitatory function)
 2. Inhibitory synapses, which inhibit the transmission
of impulses (inhibitory function).

38. EXCITATORY FUNCTION
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential
 Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) is the
nonpropagated electrical potential that develops
during the process of synaptic transmission. When
the action potential reaches the presynaptic axon
terminal, the voltagegated
 calcium channels at the presynaptic membrane are
opened. Now, the calcium ions enter the axon
terminal from Calcium ions cause the release of
neurotransmitter substance from the vesicles by
means of exocytosis.

39.  Neurotransmitter, which is excitatory in function
(excitatory neurotransmitter) passes through
presynaptic membrane and synaptic cleft and
reaches the postsynaptic membrane. Now, the
neurotransmitter binds with receptor protein
present in postsynaptic membrane to form
neurotransmitterreceptor complex.
 Neurotransmitterreceptor complex causes
production of a nonpropagated EPSP. Common
excitatory neurotransmitter in a synapse is acetylc

41.  Mechanism of Development of EPSP
 Neurotransmitterreceptor complex causes opening of
ligandgated
 sodium channels. Now, the sodium ions from ECF
enter the cell body of postsynaptic neuron.
 As the sodium ions are positively charged, resting
membrane potential inside the cell body is altered
and mild depolarization develops.
 This type of mild depolarization is called EPSP. It is
a local potential(response) in the synapse