Illustration of neuron
- 1 cell body
- 2 dendrite
- 3 axon
- 4 nerve ending
: a grayish or reddish granular cell that is the fundamental functional unit of nervous tissue transmitting and receiving nerve impulses and having cytoplasmic processes which are highly differentiated frequently as multiple dendrites or usually as solitary axons which conduct impulses to and away from the cell body : nerve cell sense 1
Examples of neuron in a Sentence
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In the mice, researchers monitored the activity of neurons that are associated with feelings of fullness, called POMC neurons.
—
Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 15 Mar. 2025
Using optogenetics, a technique that enables scientists to manipulate neural activity with light-sensitive proteins, the researchers found that activating oxytocin-responsive neurons encouraged rescue behavior even among unfamiliar mice.
—Discover Magazine, 11 Mar. 2025
Alzheimer's disease is caused in part by Amyloid-beta protein clumps forming outside of neurons as plaques, which can lead to the malfunctioning of tau proteins; these and other factors impede normal brain activity.
—New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2025
However, there is no compelling reason to believe that truncating the number of neurons is an optimal strategy.
—Sam Mugel, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
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Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 15 Mar. 2025
Using optogenetics, a technique that enables scientists to manipulate neural activity with light-sensitive proteins, the researchers found that activating oxytocin-responsive neurons encouraged rescue behavior even among unfamiliar mice.
—Discover Magazine, 11 Mar. 2025
Alzheimer's disease is caused in part by Amyloid-beta protein clumps forming outside of neurons as plaques, which can lead to the malfunctioning of tau proteins; these and other factors impede normal brain activity.
—New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2025
However, there is no compelling reason to believe that truncating the number of neurons is an optimal strategy.
—Sam Mugel, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neuron
Cite this Entry
“Neuron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neuron. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
neuron
noun
neu·ron
ˈn(y)ü-ˌrän 
ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r- ˌän
ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r- ˌän
: a grayish or reddish cell that is the basic working unit of the nervous system and has an axon and dendrites that carry nerve impulses
Medical Definition
neuron
noun
neu·ron
ˈn(y)ü-ˌrän
ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r-ˌän
ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r-ˌän
variants
also neurone
: one of the cells that constitute nervous tissue, that have the property of transmitting and receiving nerve impulses, and that are composed of somewhat reddish or grayish protoplasm with a large nucleus containing a conspicuous nucleolus, irregular cytoplasmic granules, and cytoplasmic processes which are highly differentiated frequently as multiple dendrites or usually as solitary axons and which conduct impulses toward and away from the cell body : nerve cell sense 1
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