British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Environmental Science Glossary - Relay/inter neurone definition

Definition: Relay/inter neurones are based in the brain stem. They are nerves that react to impulses coming from the sensory nerves being activated by external stimuli. If for example, you touch a hot cup, your fingertips register that it's too hot and the sensory nerves on the fingers send an impulse up the arm to the relay neurones. The relay neurones then transmit an impulse to the motor neurones in the arm, causing the muscles in the arm to contract quickly, so that your hand moves away from the hot cup immediately.