Neuroanatomy · Nervous System · Medium
Soma
Meaning: The cell body of a neuron, containing the nucleus and most of the cell's organelles.
In practice: Signals from the dendrites converge on the soma before an action potential fires.
Quick check
Two questions on related neuroanatomy words.
Which word means: A distorted body map representing areas of the motor or sensory cortex.
Answer: Homunculus
Which word means: Describing the grey matter around the midbrain's fluid channel, a key centre for descending pain control.
Answer: Periaqueductal
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