Human body is a mystery to most of the people out there. Human body, as the name suggests, is a necessity without which human beings fail to exist. Their existence goes in vain if proper care and attention is not given to their bodies.
A human body acts as a host, enabling us to function efficiently. Without a body, people will not be able to perform tasks and carry on with their daily lives smoothly.
As you already know, a human body comprises of several cells, organs, systems and intrinsic processes that help in bringing all the above components together for a smooth functioning. Nerves and neurons are two components which play pivotal roles in the mechanism of one’s body.
Although they are often confused for being the same, both nerve and neuron are quite different from each other.
Nerve vs Neuron
The main difference between nerve and neuron is their constitution. While a nerve is formed by a group of neurons, a neuron is an individual cell with a different specialization.
Comparison Table Between Nerve and Neuron
| Parameter of Comparison | Nerve | Neuron |
| Meaning | A nerve is made up of a group of neurons. | A neuron is an individual cell with a specialization. |
| Function | A nerve transmits information to various parts of the body. | A neuron transmits nerve impulses, that is, electrical and chemical signals. |
| Classification | Nerves have two classifications: – one into afferent, efferent and mixed nerves and the second into spinal and cranial nerves. | Neurons are classified into sensory neurons and motor neurons. |
| Location | Nerves are located in the peripheral nervous system. | Neurons are located in the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. |
| Constitution | Nerves comprise of different types of axons, with each nerve coated with three layers. | Neurons comprise of mainly four parts: – soma, nucleus, dendrite tree and axons. |
What is Nerve?
Nerves and neurons are quite important parts of our body mechanism. While they are very similar to each other, there are also certain differences that helps one to distinguish each other. A nerve is formed by a group of neurons, that is, a group of neurons together forms a nerve.
The main function of both nerve and neuron is to transmit or convey information. In the case of a nerve, the main function of it is to transmit information to various other parts of the body. They form pathways to different parts of the body. Thus, it is with the help of these pathways of nerves that information is transmitted to other parts of the body.
One can see two classifications, when it comes to nerves. According to one classification, nerves are divided into three types: – afferent nerves, efferent nerves and mixed nerves.
Afferent nerves carry signals from sensory neurons to the central nervous system. Efferent nerves carry signals from central nervous system to the targeted glands and muscles.
Mixed nerves carry both afferent and efferent axons and thus are responsible of the incoming sensory information and the outgoing signals to the muscles and glands. The second classification is into two types: – spinal nerves and cranial nerves.
Spinal nerves distribute signals to most parts of the body, through the vertebral column to the spinal cord. Whereas the cranial nerves distribute signals to different parts of the head (brain, brainstem).
Nerves are found in the peripheral nervous system. A nerve is considered to be the basic unit of the peripheral nervous system. A nerve comprises of different types of axons, through which they transmit signals and information to the different body parts.
Each nerve is covered with three layers: – the inner endoneurium covering the nerve fibres, perineurium being the middle layer and the outer layer called epineurium. This is the basic structure of a nerve.