Difference between revisions of "Dendrites"
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| − | '''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]] | + | '''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. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 02:13, October 23, 2008
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.
References
Martin, JH (2003). Neuroanatomy text and atlas 3rd ed., New York: McGraw-Hill.
