Our brain is made up of neurons , but which is the longest of all? Is it really found in the human body ? We answer this question below so that you know how long the largest neuron is and in which organism it is found.
How long is the largest neuron and in which organism it is found
A neuron is a nerve cell . The brain is made up of approximately 86 billion neurons , the same number of neuronal and non-neuronal cells make the human brain an isometrically scaled primate brain.
Neurons are similar to other cells in the body in some ways, such as:
- Neurons are surrounded by a membrane.
- Neurons have a nucleus that contains genes.
- Neurons contain cytoplasm, mitochondria, and other “organelles.”
However, neurons differ from other cells in the body in some ways, such as:
- Neurons have specialized projections called dendrites and axons. Dendrites bring information to the cell body and axons remove information from the cell body.
Neurons communicate with each other through an electrochemical process.
The neurons form specialized connections called “synapses” and produce special chemicals called “neurotransmitters” that are released at the synapse.
How long are neurons?
The set of neurons, known as the neural system, can reach a length of more than 150,000 kilometers , given the ability of the network to extend through the nerves, which play a very important role in our body since they act precisely as extensions of neurons, so that they can reach all points of the body and thus determine the information that the brain deems necessary.
In a special way, we have to highlight those that are sensitive neurons, responsible for connecting the receptors of the skin accessing the spine and then going up to the brain through the thalamus. It would be a perfectly connected network that allows us to know at all times what we are playing and that has a length proportional to that of each person.
Which neuron is the longest of all?
Several scientists have studied the length of neurons, reaching the conclusion that the longest of all is found in the sciatic nerve since it can measure more than one meter in length. Until recently, the axon was framed by the longest nerve in the human body, but recent studies have shown that the sciatic nerve may be superior in some cases, since it would be made up of a set of axons.
A nerve that apparently has the ability to send the impulse from the tip of the feet to the medulla oblongata without causing any interference.
And taking into account that practically all organisms, with the exception of sponges and protozoa, have neurons, we have to say that applying what has been said to the animal world, it is the blue whale that has the longest axon in the world with a length greater than 25 meters .
