Nervous Tissue 



45 



lies within the cell-body. There are two general kinds of fibers, designated 

 axons and dendrites (or dendron), whose differences will be described 

 later. 



The chief function of the neuron (aside from nourishing itself) is con- 

 duction. So far as is now known, the importance of the neuron for the 

 total organism is the fact that it can receive stimulation from (can be irri- 



Fig. 30. Nerve cell from the cere- 

 bral cortex. Magnified. (Ramon y 

 Cajal.) e, axon, c, collaterals of axon. 

 ■a, b, dendrites (dendrons). P, teleo- 

 dendrites, or terminal branches of prin- 

 cipal dendrite. 



Fig. 31. Motor cell from ventral horn 

 of gray matter of rabbit's spinal cord. 

 Highly magnified. (Barker, Nervous 

 System, after Nissl.) The process 

 (fiber) extending directly downwards is 

 the axon ; the others are dendrites. 



tated by) another neuron or by an extra-neural agency; and can transmit 

 this stimulation through itself to another neuron, to a muscle or to a gland. 

 Beyond this activity (and self -nourishment) we have no conclusive evidence 



