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Dendrites are branched
filaments in nerve cells (neurons). The word
dendrite dervives from the Greek word for tree which describes their branching
tree-like structure. Here is a diagram of a typical neuron showing the
position of the dendrites:
A typical neuron
in the central nervous system (CNS)
has many thousand dendrites. It is the dendrites that receive the bulk
of nervous signals from other neurons via connections called synapses.
Here is a diagram of some synapses:
Dendrites provide
the postsynaptic terminal component
of a synapse. The nerve transmissions are received from the axons of other
neurons via small signalling molecules called neurotransmitters.
Dendrites differ
from axons in a number of ways:
Dendrite links:
OUP USA: Dendrites
dendrites
Structure
of the Neuron - Dendrites
Dendrites
vs Axons
Neuroscience
for Kids - Neurons
Neurons