Light micrograph of a pyramidal neuron (nerve cell) from mammalian visual cortex. At centre is a cell body (20 microns wide); branched dendrites with

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Light micrograph of a pyramidal neuron (nerve cell) from mammalian visual cortex. At centre is a cell body (20 microns wide); branched dendrites with spines receive input stimuli from neighbour- ing neurons; a single axon (fine central fibre, partly disappearing & leading downwards) transmits the cell's response. On stimulation, a sudden local change in nerve cell-membrane permeability occurs. Sodium and potassium ions diffuse through, causing an electrical potential that travels wave- like along the nerve. Impulses are thus created. Nerve cells are able to adapt to incoming stimuli and may even alter their response.

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Size: 3489px × 5114px
Photo credit: © DOUGLAS & MARTIN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anatomy, axon, body, cell, cells, cortex, dendrite, human, image, images, magnified, mammal, micrograph, microscopic, nerve, nervous, neuron, neurone, photos, pyramidal, subjects, system, visual