Nerve cells, or neurons, are responsible for the reception, transmission, and processing of stimuli; the triggering of certain cell activities; and the release of neurotransmitters and other informational molecules.
Most neurons consist of three parts: the dendrites, which are multiple elongated processes specialized in receiving stimuli from the environment, sensory epithelial cells, or other neurons; the cell body, or perikaryon, which is the trophic center for the whole nerve cell and is also receptive to stimuli; and the axon, which is a single process specialized in generating or conducting nerve impulses to other cells (nerve, muscle, and gland cells). Axons may also receive information from other neurons; this information mainly modifies the transmission of action potentials to other neurons. The distal portion of the axon is usually branched and constitutes the terminal arborization. Each branch of this arborization terminates on the next cell in dilatations called end bulbs (boutons), which interact with other neurons or nonnerve cells, forming structures called synapses. Synapses transmit information to the next cell in the circuit.
Structure of Neuron –Histology of Nervous System