Normal·Neurology·Cerebrum
Cerebral cortex — pyramidal neurons
Stain: H&E·Magnification: 40x·Tissue: CNS — six-layered neocortex·3 labeled regions
Wikimedia Commons · File:Pyramidal_cells_-_brain_tissue.jpg · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pyramidal_cells_-_brain_tissue.jpg (CC-licensed)
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Pyramidal neurons are the principal projection neurons of cerebral cortex. Triangular soma with a single apical dendrite directed toward the pial surface. Large in layer V (Betz cells in motor cortex).
Labeled regions (3)
- 1Pyramidal neuron soma
Triangular cell body with pale nucleus + prominent nucleolus. Glutamatergic projection neuron.
- 2Apical dendrite
Single thick process aimed at pial surface; integrates inputs across cortical layers.
- 3Neuropil
Tangled background of axons, dendrites, glial processes. Lacks discrete cell bodies — looks "fuzzy" pink.
