Purkinje cell
Purkinje Cell
Purkinje cells (pronounced: pur-KIN-jee, /pɜːrˈkɪndʒi/) are a type of neuron found in the cerebellar cortex of the brain. They are named after the Czech anatomist Jan Evangelista Purkyně, who discovered them in 1837.
Etymology
The term "Purkinje cell" is derived from the name of its discoverer, Jan Evangelista Purkyně, a Czech anatomist. The term "cell" comes from the Latin cella, meaning "small room", which is a reference to the microscopic appearance of cells under a microscope.
Function
Purkinje cells are some of the largest neurons in the human brain. They play a crucial role in motor coordination. They receive inputs from two major sources: the climbing fibers and the mossy fibers, and send inhibitory outputs to the deep cerebellar nuclei.
Related Terms
- Neuron: A specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.
- Cerebellar cortex: The surface layer of the cerebellum, involved in coordinating voluntary movements.
- Brain: The organ of the body which controls functions, movements, sensations, and thoughts.
- Climbing fibers: A type of nerve fiber that originates from the inferior olivary nucleus and forms synapses with the dendrites of Purkinje cells.
- Mossy fibers: A type of nerve fiber that transmits information from various parts of the brain and spinal cord to the cerebellum.
- Deep cerebellar nuclei: Collections of gray matter lying within the white matter in the interior regions of the cerebellum, receiving inhibitory inputs from Purkinje cells.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Purkinje cell
- Wikipedia's article - Purkinje cell
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