What Are Primary Neurons?

Primary neurons are a type of motor neurons within the spinal cord that are responsible for sending messages and information to the brain regarding other areas of the body. These neurons sense somatosensory information and pass this information along to other neurons. They play a fundamental role in the body’s overall health. The structure, location and functions of the neuron all contribute to its overall importance within the body.

Structure

A primary neuron consists of several components that make up its complex structure. It contains a nucleus and a cytoplasm. The neuron has a long tail that extends from its cell body. The tail is the axon of the cell and is responsible for sending chemical messages to other neurons and other parts of the central nervous system. The axon is wrapped with myelin sheaths that insulate the axon and allow for the signaling to move faster. The cell body has several projections throughout its surface. These projections, called dendrites, receive incoming signals and send the signal to the cell’s nucleus. Both dendrites and axons are important in cell-to-cell signaling and communication within the nervous system.

Location

Primary neurons are part of the central nervous system. This means the neurons are responsible for communicating with the brain and spinal cord. Primary neurons are located within the sensory pathway throughout the spinal cord. These neurons are localized in the spinal regions near the trunk and waist. They are motor neurons, which means these neurons are able to travel and send signals as well as perform functions instructed by the brain.

Function

The main function of the primary neurons is to send signals. The signals they send are specifically sensory signals. Examples of sensory signals include signals such as pain, temperature, light and touch sensations. These neurons are the first to be signaled throughout the body and it is their job to send this signal to the spinal cord so it can be processed by the brain.

Importance

The main importance of the neurons is preventing harm. For example, when someone touches something that is burning his hand, this neuron sends the signal to the brain that the hand is being burned. The brain then sends a message back to these primary neurons to signal to the motor neurons to move the hand away. These chemical messages, sent and processed, by the primary neurons help in preventing fatal accidents and warn the body when something potentially damaging or dangerous is happening.