The Neuron - Part 1: Basic Anatomy and Function (incl. The Synapse)

Video by KNOW (KnowNow).

Neurons, or nerve cells, carry out the functions of the nervous system by conducting nerve impulses. They are highly specialized and amitotic. This means that if a neuron is destroyed, it cannot be replaced because neurons do not go through mitosis. There are some exceptions, though, such as neural stem cells and progenitor cells in certain regions of the brain, like the hippocampus, where neurogenesis (creation of new neurons) is possible. In this video, we focus on neuron basics.
The video ends with the explanation of the synapse. A synapse is the junction between two neurons, or between a neuron and another cell, such as a muscle or gland cell, where communication occurs.