Neurons; pyramidal cells #1b

Pyramidal cells (neurons) are found in the cortex of the brain. They have an approximately conical cell body with a major dendrite trunk emerging from the top (the apical dendrite) and several dendrites emerging from around the base (the basal dendrites). These dendrites subdivide creating a branched net to capture incoming signals from other neurons. A greenish glow represents a signal travelling towards the cell body along several of these dendrites (especially obvious in the apical dendrite trunk). Emerging from the base of the neuron is a slender axon, which transmits nerve impulses away from the cell body. These nerve impulses are represented as a set of purple glowing points.

The dendrites of pyramidal cells are covered by small projections (dendritic spines) which are the contact point for axon terminals from other nerve cells. These contacts are called synapses.