What is the functional unit of the nervous system?

The functional unit of the nervous system is the neuron. Neurons are specialized cells that are responsible for transmitting information throughout the body. They communicate through electrical and chemical signals, allowing for the processing and transmission of information in the nervous system. Each neuron consists of three main parts: the cell body, axon, and dendrites. The cell body contains the nucleus and organelles, the axon carries impulses away from the cell body to other neurons or muscles, and the dendrites receive incoming signals from other neurons.

In the context of the other choices, while axons, dendrites, and synapses play important roles within and between neurons, they are not considered the fundamental unit of the nervous system. The axon is part of the neuron responsible for sending signals, dendrites are the receiving branches, and synapses are the junctions where neurons communicate with one another. However, neurons themselves are the basic building blocks of the nervous system, making them the true functional unit.