What is a cell body?

Question

Aaron Allen · Accepted Answer

Cell body is a part of Neuron or nerve cell.

Neurons are the basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system. Neurons have two main parts : the cell body and the nerve fibers.The cell body (also known as the soma) is the spherical part of the neuron that contains the nucleus.

Parts of a neuron :

This nucleus is the control center of the cell. In the cytoplasm of the soma, there are mitochondria, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, and extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In a neuron, the rough ER has granular structures referred to as Nissl bodies (this is where protein synthesis occurs).

Cell body of a Neuron :

The nerve fibers are of two types : dendrites and axons. Dendrites are short and branched, like the branches of trees. These are the
receptive areas of the neuron and a multipolar neuron will have many dendrites.

The axon is a long process or fiber that begins singly but may branch and at its end has many fine extensions called axon terminals that contact with dendrites of other neurons.

Autumn Anderson · Answer

undefined The cell body, also known as the soma or perikaryon, is the main part of a neuron. It contains the nucleus and other organelles necessary for the neuron's metabolic activities. The cell body integrates incoming signals from dendrites and generates outgoing signals along the axon.