Definition
A dendrite is one of the four main parts of neurons, which also include the cell body, the axon, and the axon terminals. The dendrite is the part of the neuron that receives incoming signals from other neurons. The signals come in the form of neurotransmitters that cross the area of the synapse between one neuron and another neuron’s dendrites. Neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the dendrites, and then the signal passes though the neuron to the cell body. Dendrites may have extensive branching, and each neuron often has multiple dendrites.
The number of dendrites and thus the number of synapses vary with the functions of a neuron. The dendrites of one neuron may receive signals from thousands of other neurons. That one neuron then integrates many signals received and responds accordingly.
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References and Reading
Corwin, E. (2006). Handbook of pathophysiology (3rd ed., pp. 185–187). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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Califano, C. (2021). Dendrite. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_1422
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