'''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]]. They , and are used primarily for receiving input from other cells. Information is carried out of a cell along its [[axon]] which terminates near the edges tips of dendrites from other neurons. Between the point at which ends of the axon terminates and the start of the other neuron's dendrites are neighboring dendrite is a small spaces 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 of the right neurotransmitter binds neurotransmitters bind to the right receptor matching receptors, the dendrite will activate and propagate an [[electrical impulse]] to the soma. The soma then , 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.
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