'''Dendrites''' are one of the three primary parts of a [[neuron]]. They extend in a branching, tree-like fashion (hence their name) from the cell body or [[soma]], and are used primarily for receiving input from other cells. Information is carried out of a cell along its [[axon]] which terminates near the tips of dendrites from other neurons. Between the ends of the axon and neighboring dendrite is a small space called a [[synaptic cleft]]. This space is filled with [[cerebral spinal fluid]]. Small chemical messengers called [[neurotransmitters]] are released from the terminating axon and enter the synaptic cleft. Here the neurotransmitters may bind to [[receptors]]; small proteins held in place in the [[cellular membrane]] along the dendrite edge. If enough neurotransmitters bind to the matching receptors, the dendrite will activate and propagate an [[electrical impulse]] to the soma, which sums the inputs from all its various dendrites. Individual dendrites can either be [[excitatory]] or [[inhibitory]]. The soma then decides whether to alter current firing behavior based on the summed dendrite inputs. | '''Dendrites''' are one of the three primary parts of a [[neuron]]. They extend in a branching, tree-like fashion (hence their name) from the cell body or [[soma]], and are used primarily for receiving input from other cells. Information is carried out of a cell along its [[axon]] which terminates near the tips of dendrites from other neurons. Between the ends of the axon and neighboring dendrite is a small space called a [[synaptic cleft]]. This space is filled with [[cerebral spinal fluid]]. Small chemical messengers called [[neurotransmitters]] are released from the terminating axon and enter the synaptic cleft. Here the neurotransmitters may bind to [[receptors]]; small proteins held in place in the [[cellular membrane]] along the dendrite edge. If enough neurotransmitters bind to the matching receptors, the dendrite will activate and propagate an [[electrical impulse]] to the soma, which sums the inputs from all its various dendrites. Individual dendrites can either be [[excitatory]] or [[inhibitory]]. The soma then decides whether to alter current firing behavior based on the summed dendrite inputs. |