Purkinje cell | |
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Details | |
Pronunciation | Often pronounced as /pɜːrˈkɪndʒi/ pur-KIN-jee;[1] but Czech pronunciation is (Czech: [ˈpurkɪɲɛ] cells |
Location | Cerebellum |
Shape | Flat dendritic arbor |
Function | Inhibitory projection neuron |
Neurotransmitter | GABA |
Presynaptic connections | Parallel fibers and climbing fibers |
Postsynaptic connections | Cerebellar deep nuclei |
Identifiers | |
MeSH | D011689 |
NeuroNames | 365 |
NeuroLex ID | sao471801888 |
TA98 | A14.1.07.404 |
FMA | 67969 |
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy |
Purkinje cells or Purkinje neurons, named for Czech physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkyně who identified them in 1837, [2] are a unique type of prominent large neurons located in the cerebellar cortex of the brain. With their flask-shaped cell bodies, many branching dendrites, and a single long axon, these cells are essential for controlling motor activity. Purkinje cells mainly release GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) neurotransmitter, which inhibits some neurons to reduce nerve impulse transmission. Purkinje cells efficiently control and coordinate the body's motor motions through these inhibitory actions.[3][4]