Cellular Processes
Although cells in the nervous system contain all the cellular machinery that exists in other cells throughout the body, nervous system cells have many specialized functions that present unique challenges in the maintenance of cellular functionality and homeostasis. The unique morphology of neurons demands elaborate cytoarchitecture, energy production, and cellular processing machinery that are unparalleled in other parts of the body. This chapter presents a broad overview of cellular processes related to the cytoskeleton, axonal transport, protein processing, and energy metabolism within the nervous system. Breakdowns of these intricate processes are involved in many diseases of the nervous system, which are discussed in subsequent chapters.