What is a Purkinje cell ?
A Purkinje cell is a type of neuron . These neurons look like tiny trees , and are found in the cerebellum at the back of the brain . The cerebellum is responsible for learning new movements and controlling things like posture and balance . Purkinje cells help us carry out these functions by integrating input from other neurons and brain regions , and then sending outgoing signals that adjust our behavior as needed . Purkinje cells have a cell body ( soma ) in the middle , a thin axon extending from one side , and tremendously complex dendritic branches extending in the other direction . Purkinje cells integrate electrical signals that arrive in their dendrites , and send a message out through the axon . Purkinje cells communicate with other neurons in their circuit through electrical signals . Like other cells , Purkinje cells have a nucleus , mitochondria , a Golgi apparatus , and other important organelles .
One special factor that distinguishes Purkinje cells from other neurons is that Purkinje cell dendrites are incredibly intricate . No other neuron has such complex branches . Purkinje cell dendrites mirror the shape of tree branches , but on a microscopic level . In fact , when we talk about dendrites , we use the word “ arborization ,” which comes from arbor , the Latin word for tree .