| 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) |
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| 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) |
| neuronophagia | Neuronophagy Phagocytosis of nerve cells. Origin: neuron + G. Phago, to eat (05 Mar 2000) |
| neurons | Any of the conducting cells of the nervous system. A typical neuron consists of a cell body, containing the nucleus and the surrounding cytoplasm (perikaryon); several short radiating processes (dendrites); and one long process (the axon), which terminates in twiglike branches (telodendrons) and may have branches (collaterals) projecting along its course. (12 Dec 1998) |