Renshaw cell
Renshaw cell
Renshaw cells are a type of interneuron found in the spinal cord of mammals. They are named after Birdsey Renshaw, who first described them in the 1940s. Renshaw cells play a crucial role in the motor system by providing inhibitory feedback to motor neurons.
Anatomy and Location[edit | edit source]
Renshaw cells are located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord, specifically in the lamina VII region. They receive input from alpha motor neurons via collateral branches of the motor axons. This anatomical arrangement allows Renshaw cells to modulate the activity of the motor neurons that innervate skeletal muscles.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of Renshaw cells is to provide recurrent inhibition to motor neurons. When a motor neuron fires, it sends a collateral signal to a Renshaw cell, which in turn inhibits the same motor neuron and its neighboring motor neurons. This feedback loop helps to regulate motor neuron activity, preventing excessive firing and ensuring smooth and coordinated muscle contractions.
Neurotransmitters[edit | edit source]
Renshaw cells release the inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine, which binds to receptors on motor neurons to produce an inhibitory effect. In some cases, they may also release gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), another inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Dysfunction of Renshaw cells has been implicated in various neurological disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal cord injuries. Understanding the role of Renshaw cells in these conditions could lead to new therapeutic approaches.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD