Author Topic: Which is the longest cell in human body? (Read 4847 times)

hussain · **on:** 18/07/2010 17:30:02

hussain asked the Naked Scientists:
Which is the longest cell in human body?
What do you think?

tangoblue · **Reply #1 on:** 19/07/2010 23:08:21

Mabye the ones in the intrstines, to obsorb more nutrients, but thats just a quess.

tommya300 · **Reply #2 on:** 20/07/2010 00:33:10

Quote from: hussain on 18/07/2010 17:30:02

hussain asked the Naked Scientists:
Which is the longest cell in human body?
What do you think?

How about the nerve cells that run the length of the spine?

DoryT · **Reply #3 on:** 09/08/2010 06:00:38

Quote from: tommya300 on 20/07/2010 00:33:10

Quote from: hussain on 18/07/2010 17:30:02
hussain asked the Naked Scientists:
Which is the longest cell in human body?
What do you think?

How about the nerve cells that run the length of the spine?

Yep. And muscle cells are pretty long too!

SteveFish · **Reply #4 on:** 12/10/2010 15:32:55

Motor neurons in the cortex of the brain that project to their synapse in the lower part of the spinal cord and sensory neurons that collect touch information from the tip of the big toe and project to their synapse in the spinal cord.

tangoblue · **Reply #5 on:** 14/10/2010 01:31:19

Surely one cell cant run the length of a spine. the question was what is the longest CELL in the body.

SteveFish · **Reply #6 on:** 14/10/2010 16:48:57

Tangoblue:

My statement is accurate. There are neurons that originate in the brain and extend clear down the spinal column, and others that are as long as ones leg plus foot plus toe. Neurons can be very long because they project their axon over distance.

Steve

tangoblue · **Reply #7 on:** 14/10/2010 22:28:53

Thats quite interesting. See, that just goes to show that you learn something new every day.

maffsolo · **Reply #8 on:** 15/10/2010 05:50:11

One particular kind of cell you all forgot to mention, that can grow longer than the body it covers.
The non bald headed hair cell, you can almost control its length.

SteveFish · **Reply #9 on:** 15/10/2010 15:26:59

Maffsolo, a hair is not a single cell, it is composed of many thousands of cells. Also, hair does not grow continuously so its length is not indeterminate. A head hair grows for around three years before the follicle goes through a rest period and the hair falls out. This is why the longest head hair, usually cultivated by young women, rarely grows below the waist. Instances where it appears that hair is very long, such as elders in some Himalayan cultures with three meter beards, actually weave the hair together so it holds together like a rope made of shorter hairs. Steve

maffsolo · **Reply #10 on:** 15/10/2010 18:44:00

Thanks Steve I was incorrect stick to the brain stem spinal cord to the toe.

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Author Topic: Which is the longest cell in human body? (Read 4847 times)

hussain