Soma refers to the cell body of a neuron, which contains the nucleus and other organelles necessary for the normal functioning and survival of the cell. It is an essential component of the nervous system and plays a crucial role in transmitting signals within the brain and to the rest of the body.
The soma is typically spherical or oval in shape and contains the following structures:
The soma is responsible for integrating the incoming signals from dendrites, processing this information, and generating an output signal along the axon to other neurons or target cells. It also maintains the overall health and functioning of the neuron.
To understand the topic of soma, consider the following study guide: