Cell Specialization- Nerve Cells

• Find pictures/diagrams of this cell. 
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• Describe its structural characteristics (shape, size, location, etc.). Does it have all the same organelles of the typical eukaryotic cell? Nerve cells are cells that are found in the nervous system. Neurons (Nerve cells) have an outer membrane, a nucleus, and smaller structures called organelles that perform important functions. These cells also make up the Brain and the nervous system. And a cool trait about these cells to is that all of them look different from each other, meaning not one neuron looks alike. Cool, right! Neurons vary in size from 4 microns (.004 mm) to 100 microns (.1 mm) in diameter. Their length varies from a fraction of an inch to several feet. Also, a cool fact about Neurons is that the nerve cells transmit nerve signals to and from the brain at up to 200 mph. While variable in size and shape, all neurons have three parts. Dendrites receive information from another cell and transmit the message to the cell body. The cell body contains the nucleus, mitochondria and other organelles typical of eukaryotic cells. The axon conducts messages away from the cell body.

• Describe its function. What does it specialize in? These cells are designed to stimulate other cells in the body in order to communicate. Neurons, a type of nerve cell, function by using electricity. Through electric messages, also known as action potential, neurons are able to take action in the cells they target.

• What kind of tissue is this classified as? The nerve cells are in the Nervous System which makes it nervous tissue.