MAGNOCELLULAR Meaning and
Definition
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Magnocellular refers to the type of cells found within certain structures of the brain or visual system that are associated with processing large-scale visual information. The term "magnocellular" is derived from the Latin word "magnus," meaning big or large, and "cellula," meaning small cell.
In neuroscience, magnocellular cells, also known as M-cells, are a type of neuron found primarily in the magnocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) within the thalamus, a critical relay center for visual information. These cells receive input from the cones in the retina and are responsible for processing low spatial frequency information, particularly related to motion detection, depth perception, and the perception of large objects. They are characterized by their large cell bodies, thick dendrites, and fast-conducting axons.
The magnocellular pathway, consisting of the M-cells, extends from the retina to the LGN and then projects to various areas in the visual cortex, including the primary visual cortex (V1). This pathway plays a crucial role in the initial stages of visual processing, distinguishing between rapidly changing movement and finer details of visual stimuli.
Moreover, the term "magnocellular" can also refer to the magnocellular neurosecretory cells located in the hypothalamus. These cells secrete hormones like oxytocin and vasopressin, which are involved in a range of physiological functions, including the regulation of social behavior, reproductive processes, and water balance in the body.
Overall, the term "magnocellular" pertains to the specialized cells of the brain and visual system that are responsible for processing large-scale visual information and regulating essential physiological functions.
Common Misspellings for MAGNOCELLULAR
- nagnocellular
- kagnocellular
- jagnocellular
- mzgnocellular
- msgnocellular
- mwgnocellular
- mqgnocellular
- mafnocellular
- mavnocellular
- mabnocellular
- mahnocellular
- maynocellular
- matnocellular
- magbocellular
- magmocellular
- magjocellular
- maghocellular
- magnicellular
- magnkcellular
- magnlcellular
Etymology of MAGNOCELLULAR
The word "magnocellular" is a combination of two roots: "magni-" and "cellular".
1. "Magni-" derives from the Latin word "magnus", meaning "large" or "great". It has been borrowed into English to indicate matters of size, magnitude, or greatness, such as "magnify", "magnificent", or "magnitude".
2. "Cellular" ultimately comes from the Latin word "cellula", meaning "small room" or "cell". It refers to the basic structural unit of all living organisms, commonly associated with the smallest functional unit.
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