My Science School

How are messages passed through the nervous system?

                    Nerve impulses that pass through the nervous system are able to jump from one neurone to the next. Inside the nerve fibre, the nerve impulse travels as an electrical signal. When it reaches the end of the long fibre, it jumps across to the next neurone by means of a chemical called a transmitter. This chemical is released from the branched ends of the fibre. As this transmitter substance contacts the next neurone, it starts another nerve impulse. This whole process is very fast, and nerve impulses travel along the largest nerve fibres at 90 m per second. Messages travel along smaller nerves such as those in the digestive system at a slower rate.

What is a synapse?

            The point where the tiny bulbs on the tips of a nerve fibre contact another neurone is called the synapse. It is the point where transmitter substances carry the electrical signal from one neurone to the next. Some transmitter substances can switch off a nerve signal.

Picture Credit: Google