Task 1 The diagram shows the components of a neuron and how it works

The diagram illustrates the various parts of a neuron and the way in which they function.
Overall, six connected components are shown, from the cell body on the left to the
terminal buttons on the right.
The cell body, or soma, is surrounded by dendrites. These are a number of branch-like
structures which, like the branches of a tree, become thinner towards their ends. These
dendrites act as receptors of messages from other cells.
One of the branches, however, has no dendrites and this is called the axon. Instead of
receiving messages it transmits them away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles
or glands. A myelin sheath covers the axon of some neurons, helping to speed up the
electrical signals that pass down the axon shown in the diagram as action potential. The
electrical signals travel down the length of the axon, until they reach the terminal buttons
that branch out from the axon. These terminal buttons, finally, enable the neuron to form
junctions with other cells.