What are the basic building blocks of the nervous system called?

The basic building blocks of the nervous system are called neurons. Neurons are specialized cells that transmit information throughout the body via electrical and chemical signals. They are essential for the functions of the nervous system, which includes processing sensory information, controlling movements, and facilitating communication between different body parts.

Neurons consist of three main parts: the cell body, dendrites, and axons. The cell body contains the nucleus and organelles, dendrites receive signals from other neurons, and axons send signals to other neurons or muscles. This intricate structure allows neurons to communicate effectively, making them fundamental to all neurological functions.

While dendrites, axons, and synapses are all crucial components of neuronal communication, they are not the basic building blocks themselves. Dendrites and axons are parts of a neuron, and a synapse is the junction where communication occurs between two neurons. Understanding that neurons serve as the foundational units of the nervous system is key in studying psychopathology and overall neural functioning.