Medical Assistant Certification (MAC) AMCA Practice Exam

What is the smallest structural unit of the nervous system?

1. Cell

2. Neuron

3. Axon

4. Dendrite

The correct answer is: Neuron

The correct answer is that the smallest structural unit of the nervous system is a neuron. Neurons are specialized cells that transmit information throughout the nervous system via electrical and chemical signals. They consist of various components, including the cell body, axon, and dendrites, each playing distinct roles in neural communication. While a cell is indeed the basic unit of life, neurons are a specific type of cell responsible for conducting nerve impulses and facilitating communication between different parts of the body. Axons and dendrites are parts of neurons, where axons carry signals away from the cell body and dendrites receive signals from other neurons. However, neither axons nor dendrites can function independently outside the context of the neuron itself, which serves as the primary functional unit in the nervous system. Thus, identifying a neuron as the smallest structural unit highlights its critical role in the overall functionality of the nervous system.