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AAT Bioquest

How many types of neurons are there in terms of their function?

Posted January 10, 2024


Answer

There are three main types of neurons based on their function: 

  1. Sensory Neurons: Sensory neurons have one dendrite and one axon. They receive stimuli from various parts of the body and carry that information to the central nervous system to be processed.
  2. Motor Neurons: Motor neurons have one axon and multiple dendrites. They convey information from interneurons to effector organs such as muscles and glands to respond to the stimuli.
  3. Interneurons: Interneurons have multiple axons and multiple dendrites. They are found only in the central nervous system connecting one neuron to another. Interneurons are involved in receiving information from sensory neurons or interneurons, interpreting the information received, and then transmitting the information to relevant motor neurons or interneurons.  
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