Neurons are highly specialized cells in both form and function. They contain the same suite of organelles as other cells, including the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and bilipid membrane. Unlike many cells, however, neurons are polar cells, meaning that one side of the cell has a different form and function than the other side of the cell. The dendrites are located at one extremity, and the axon is at the other end. Dendrites are an extension of the neuronal membrane. This extension stretches out from the cell body like a tree with many branches. Each "twig" of the dendritic tree is in contact with another neuron, and the function of the dendrites is to receive information from these other neurons. It is not uncommon for thousands of neurons to contact a single dendritic arbor. The axon, at the opposite pole of the cell, is generally long and unbranched...