Dendrite

Dendrite
A short arm-like protuberance from a nerve cell (a neuron). Dendrites from neurons next to one another are tipped by synapses (tiny transmitters and receivers for chemical messages between the cells). The word "dendrite" means "branched like a tree." It comes from the Greek "dendron" (tree). See also neuron and axon.
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1. One of the two types of branching protoplasmic processes of the nerve cell (the other being the axon). SYN: dendritic process, dendron, neurodendrite, neurodendron. 2. A crystalline treelike structure formed during the freezing of an alloy. [G. dendrites, relating to a tree]
- apical d. SYN: apical process.

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den·drite 'den-.drīt n any of the usu. branching protoplasmic processes that conduct impulses toward the body of a nerve cell
den·drit·ic den-'drit-ik adj

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n.
one of the shorter branching processes of the cell body of a neurone, which makes contact with other neurones at synapses and carries nerve impulses from them into the cell body.

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den·drite (denґdrīt) [Gr. dendron tree] 1. one of the threadlike extensions of the cytoplasm of a neuron (q.v.), which typically branch into tree-like processes. In unipolar and bipolar neurons, there is a single dendrite, which proximally resembles an axon but branches distally; in multipolar neurons there are many short, branching dendrites. Dendrites compose most of the receptive surface of a neuron. Called also dendron, neurodendrite, and neurodendron. See illustration. 2. dendritic ulcer.

Dendrites (green arrows) and axon (blue arrow) of a motor neuron, with a dense surround of neuronal processes, in a preparation of spinal cord gray matter stained for neurofibrils.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • dendrite — [ dɑ̃drit; dɛ̃drit ] n. f. • 1732; du gr. dendritês « qui concerne les arbres », de dendron « arbre » 1 ♦ Minér. Arborisation formée par de fins cristaux en agrégats ramifiés. Dendrites brunes formées d oxydes de fer et de manganèse. 2 ♦ (1893)… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Dendrite — Den drite, n. [Gr. dendri ths, fem. dendri^tis, of a tree, fr. de ndron a tree: cf. F. dendrite.] (Min.) A stone or mineral on or in which are branching figures resembling shrubs or trees, produced by a foreign mineral, usually an oxide of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dendrite — dendrite. См. дендрит. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • Dendrite — Dendrite. См. Дендрит. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) …   Словарь металлургических терминов

  • dendrite — DENDRITE. s. f. Terme d Histoire naturelle. Pierre sur laquelle on trouve des accidens qui représentent des buissons, des arbrisseaux formés naturellement …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • dendrite — mid 18c., from Gk. dendrites of or pertaining to a tree, from dendron tree (see DENDRO (Cf. dendro )). The mineral so called for its markings …   Etymology dictionary

  • dendrite — s. f. Pedra que representa uma árvore.   ‣ Etimologia: dendro + ite …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • dendrite —  Dendrite  Дендрит   Короткий сильно ветвящийся отросток нервной клетки, воспринимающий сигналы от других нервных клеток. По дендритам импульсы следуют к телу клетки. Благодаря отросткам нейроны контактируют друг с другом и образуют нейронные… …   Толковый англо-русский словарь по нанотехнологии. - М.

  • dendrite — ► NOUN ▪ a short extension of a nerve cell that conducts impulses to the cell body. DERIVATIVES dendritic adjective. ORIGIN from Greek dendrit s tree like …   English terms dictionary

  • dendrite — [den′drīt΄] n. [< Gr dendritēs, of a tree < dendron, a tree: see DENDRO ] 1. a branching, treelike mark made by one mineral crystallizing in another 2. a stone or mineral with such a mark 3. the branched part of a nerve cell that carries… …   English World dictionary

  • Dendrite — Dendritic redirects here. For the dendritic cell of the immune system, see Dendritic cell. For other uses of dendrite , see dendrite (disambiguation). Structure of a typical neuron Dendrite …   Wikipedia

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