Electrolysis Practice Exam

Which part of the body serves as a structural unit of the nervous system?

1. Neuron

2. Glial cell

3. Axon

4. Dendrite

The correct answer is: Neuron

The neuron serves as the fundamental structural and functional unit of the nervous system. Neurons are specialized cells that transmit information throughout the body via electrical and chemical signals. They are responsible for receiving stimuli, processing information, and communicating responses to different parts of the body, making them integral to the overall functioning of the nervous system. While glial cells provide support and protection for neurons, their role is more about maintenance and support than being the unit of information transmission. Axons and dendrites are components of neurons; axons transmit impulses away from the cell body, while dendrites receive signals from other neurons. However, neither of these components can function independently as the primary unit of the nervous system, which is why the neuron is recognized as the structural unit in this context.