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Purkinje cell

Noun

1. Large neuron with many branching extensions that is found in the cortex of the cerebellum of the brain and that plays a fundamental role in controlling motor movement. They are characterized by cell bodies that are flasklike in shape, by numerous branching dendrites, and by a single long axon. Most Purkinje cells release a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which exerts inhibitory actions on certain neurons and thereby reduces the transmission of nerve impulses. These inhibitory functions enable Purkinje cells to regulate and coordinate motor movements. (global.britannica.com)

2. A class of GABAergic neurons located in the cerebellar cortex. (wikipedia.org)

3. A class of output neurons in the cerebellum, which are the only neurons that convey signals away from the cerebellum. They form a layer of large ganglion cells near the surface of the cerebellum. (biology-online.org)

4. A large densely branching neuron that is the characteristic cell of the cerebellar cortex. (wordnetweb.princeton.edu)

Syn: Purkinje neuron

Word origin: Named after Czech physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkinje who first discovered the cells in 1837.