Ganglion facts for kids
A ganglion (say "GANG-lee-on") is like a small knot or cluster of nerve cells in your body. Think of it as a mini-headquarters for nerves. These groups of nerve cells help send messages around your nervous system. They act as a meeting point where different nerve paths connect.
What is a Ganglion?
Ganglia are super important parts of your nervous system. Your nervous system is like a huge communication network that sends signals all over your body. Ganglia help to process and relay these signals. They are found outside the brain and spinal cord.
Ganglia in Different Animals
In some animals, especially those without a complex brain like humans, ganglia do a lot of the thinking work. For example, an earthworm has a ganglion near its head, above its gut. This ganglion is connected to another one below the gut. Nerve fibers then run down each side of the gut.
This type of setup is common in many invertebrate animals, like insects and worms. It's different from vertebrate animals (like fish, birds, and humans). Vertebrates have their spinal cord running along their back, above their gut.
Ganglia in Your Eye
You also have special ganglion cells in your retina. The retina is the light-sensing part at the back of your eye. These cells are very important for seeing. They collect visual information from other cells in the retina. Then, they send this information to your brain through the optic nerve. This helps your brain understand what you are looking at.
See also
In Spanish: Ganglio nervioso para niños
