Neuron nucleus

Nucleus neuronis

NervousNervesWhole body

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What it is
A large, round, pale nucleus with a prominent nucleolus sitting in the middle of the soma - the sign of a cell making proteins at a very high rate.
Function
Stores the DNA and directs protein synthesis for the soma, dendrites and the whole length of the axon.
Size
About 10-20 micrometres in reality
Clinical note
When an axon is cut, the nucleus moves to the edge of the soma and the Nissl bodies dissolve (chromatolysis) as the cell switches to repair mode.

Part of Neuron cell body (soma) - magnified

Nearby nervous structures Accessory nerve (CN XI), Axon, Brachial plexus, Cervical plexus, Dendrites, Left phrenic nerve, Myelin sheath, Nodes of Ranvier, Postsynaptic dendrite of the next neuron, Synapse (axon terminals and boutons)