| neuron | An excitable cell specialised for the transmission of electrical signals over long distances. Neurons receive input from sensory cells or other neurons and send output to muscles or other neurons. Neurons with sensory input are called sensory neurons, neurons with muscle outputs are called motoneurons, neurons that connect only with other neurons are called interneurons. Neurons connect with each other via synapses. Neurons can be the longest cells known, a single axon can be several metres in length. Although signals are usually sent via action potentials, some neurons are nonspiking. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| neuronal | <anatomy> Pertaining to a neuron or neurons (= conducting cells of the nervous system). (18 Nov 1997) |
| neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis | A heritable lipidosis with cytoplasmic inclusions staining for ceroid and lipofuscin. Clinically the patient has progressive dementia, retinal degeneration, seizures, and myoclonic jerks. It was formerly thought to be related to tay-sachs disease but the biochemical defect is as yet undetermined. Named according to age of onset: jansky-bielschowsky disease, 2-4 years; batten-spielmeyer-vogt disease, 5-11 years; and kufs disease, adult. (12 Dec 1998) |
| neuronal differentiation | Acquisition during development of specific biochemical, physiological and morphological properties by nerve cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| neuronal guidance | <cell biology> General term for mechanisms that ensure correct projections by nerve cells in developing and regenerating nervous systems. Implies accurate navigation by growth cones, the highly motile tips of growing neuronal processes. See: growth cone collapse. (12 Mar 1998) |
| neuronal hyperplasia | Increased numbers of ganglion cells with myenteric plexus hyperplasia and increased acetylcholinesterase activity in nerves of the mucosa and submucosa. Clinically, neuronal hyperplasia mimics Hirschprung's disease. Similar findings are seen in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome, type IIB, and in neurofibromatosis. Synonym: hyperganglionosis, neuronal intestinal dysplasia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neuronal intestinal dysplasia | Increased numbers of ganglion cells with myenteric plexus hyperplasia and increased acetylcholinesterase activity in nerves of the mucosa and submucosa. Clinically, neuronal hyperplasia mimics Hirschprung's disease. Similar findings are seen in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome, type IIB, and in neurofibromatosis. Synonym: hyperganglionosis, neuronal intestinal dysplasia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neuronal plasticity | Ability of nerve cells to change their properties for example by sprouting new processes, making new synapses or altering the strength of existing synapses. See: long-term potentiation. (18 Nov 1997) |
| neuronal polarity | Distribution of specific functions to discrete cellular domains: for example axons and dendrites that have different molecular composition, morphology and ultrastructure and perform different functions. (18 Nov 1997) |
| neurone | An excitable cell specialised for the transmission of electrical signals over long distances. Neurons receive input from sensory cells or other neurons and send output to muscles or other neurons. Neurons with sensory input are called sensory neurons, neurons with muscle outputs are called motoneurons, neurons that connect only with other neurons are called interneurons. Neurons connect with each other via synapses. Neurons can be the longest cells known, a single axon can be several metres in length. Although signals are usually sent via action potentials, some neurons are nonspiking. (18 Nov 1997) |
| neuronephric | Relating to the nerve supply of the kidney. Origin: neuro-+ G. Nephros, kidney (05 Mar 2000) |
| neuronevus | A variety of intradermal nevus in adults in which nests of atrophic nevus cells in the lower dermis are hyalinised and resemble nerve bundles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neuronitis | Inflammatory disorder of the neuron. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neuronopathy | Disorder, often toxic, of the neuron. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neuronophage | A phagocyte that ingests neuronal elements. See: microglia. Origin: neuron + G. Phago, to eat (05 Mar 2000) |
| autonomic motor neuron | See: motor neuron. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| bipolar neuron | A neuron that has two processes arising from opposite poles of the cell body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| magnocellular neuron | <anatomy, neurology> A neuron in the magnocellular region of the brain. Perhaps the first class of neuron from the central nervous system shown to be sensitive to nerve growth factor (that had previously been thought only to act at the periphery). (18 Nov 1997) |
| ganglionic motor neuron | See: motor neuron. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Mauthner neuron | <biology, marine biology> Large neuron in the mesencephalon of fishes and amphibians. A rare example of an individually identifiable neuron in a vertebrate nervous system. (18 Nov 1997) |
| visceral motor neuron | See: motor neuron. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cell adhesion molecules, neuron-glia | Cell adhesion molecules that mediate neuron-neuron adhesion and neuron-astrocyte adhesion. They are expressed on neurons and schwann cells, but not astrocytes and are involved in neuronal migration, neurite fasciculation, and outgrowth. Ng-cam is immunologically and structurally distinct from ncam (neural cell adhesion molecules). (12 Dec 1998) |
| Golgi type II neuron | <physiology> Nerve cells with short axons which ramify in the gray matter. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Golgi type I neuron | <physiology> Nerve cells whose long axons leave the gray matter of which they form a part. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cholinergic neuron | <physiology> Neurons in which actylcholine is the neurotransmitter. (15 Jan 1998) |
| piriform neuron layer | The layer of Purkinje cells between the molecular and granular layers of the cerebellar cortex. Synonym: stratum neuronorum piriformium, ganglionic layer of cerebellar cortex, layer of piriform neurons, Purkinje's layer, stratum gangliosum cerebelli. (05 Mar 2000) |
| motor neuron | Synonym for motoneuron. (18 Nov 1997) |
| motor neuron disease | <disease> Degenerative disease of unknown cause that affects predominantly motor neurons of spinal cord, cranial nerve nuclei and motor cortex. There is speculation that deficiency in ciliary neurotrophic factor may be involved. (18 Nov 1997) |
| multipolar neuron | A neuron with several processes, usually an axon and three or more dendrites. (05 Mar 2000) |
| polymorphic neuron | Occurring in many shapes. See: multipolar cell. (05 Mar 2000) |