Nervous tissue

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/nervous-tissue

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary cell types and functions?Neurons (signal transmission) and glial cells (support, insulation, nourishment, immune function)
2. What is the mechanism of signal propagation?Action potentials (electrical) along axons and neurotransmitter release (chemical) at synapses
3. What are the main cells in nervous tissue?Nervous tissue has two main cell types: neurons, which send signals, and glial cells, which support and protect them.
4. How do neurons send messages so fast?Neurons use electrical signals called action potentials that travel along their axons, then release chemical messengers called neurotransmitters to talk to other neurons.

Action Potential: A rapid, transient electrical signal that travels along the axon of a neuron.
Synaptic Plasticity: The ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time, crucial for learning and memory.
Neurodegenerative Diseases: Conditions characterized by the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons.