AMACRINE Meaning and
Definition
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Amacrine refers to a type of neuron found in the retina of the eye. These neurons are an important component of the retinal circuitry, playing a crucial role in visual processing. The term "amacrine" derives from the Greek words "a" meaning without and "makros" meaning long, indicating that these neurons lack axons, which are usually long projections of a nerve cell.
Amacrine cells are interneurons that connect different types of retinal cells, including photoreceptor cells, bipolar cells, and ganglion cells. They form connections known as synapses, which allow them to transmit information in a chemical and electrical manner between neighboring cells within the retina. This intricate network enables the integration and modulation of visual signals as they travel through the retinal circuit.
The specific functions of amacrine cells include regulating the transmission of signals from the photoreceptor cells to the bipolar cells, modulating the sensitivity and selectivity of the visual system, enhancing contrast and adjusting temporal aspects of visual processing. Through their inhibitory and excitatory connections, amacrine cells contribute to visual perception by adjusting the response properties of retinal cells and shaping the output signals that are sent to the brain.
Overall, amacrine cells play a crucial role in the complex processing of visual information within the retina, contributing to various aspects of visual perception and ensuring that the signals reaching the brain are appropriately refined and encoded for further processing.
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A unipolar nerve-cell found in the retina, olfactory bulb, and within the meshes of Purkinje's cells in the cerebellum.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AMACRINE
- amarkine
- zmacrine
- smacrine
- wmacrine
- qmacrine
- akacrine
- ajacrine
- amzcrine
- amwcrine
- amqcrine
- amaxrine
- amavrine
- amaceine
- amacdine
- amacfine
- amactine
- amac5ine
- amac4ine
- amacrune
- amacrjne
Etymology of AMACRINE
The word "amacrine" originates from the Greek roots "a-" meaning "without" and "makros" meaning "length" or "long". The term was first used in the field of neuroscience to describe a specific type of neuron found in the retina of vertebrate eyes. The amacrine cells are interneurons that are shorter than the adjacent bipolar and ganglion cells, hence the name "a" (without) + "macrone" (length), referring to their lack of long processes or axons.
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