Purkinje Cell

The Purkin cell layer consists of a large number (up to five thousand) of small cells (neurons) with a diameter of approximately 0.035 mm, located in close groups along the inner wall of the ventricles of the brain - lateral and ventral. These cells do not have processes. It is believed that this layer began to develop later than all other parts of the brain. In terms of the number of neurons, it is significantly inferior to the two previous sections. Researchers are usually confused by the large number of P cells. Therefore, a separate system of neurons is distinguished - P columns. These are separate cylindrical cell groups with a diameter of 20 to 250 microns. They are separated from each other by neural intermembrane spaces. The number of cells can reach 30 or more. Moreover, they have the same size and shape. Cell bodies border only on intercellular spaces. The distance between neurons is from 90 to 500 nm. The myelin sheaths of nerve fibers are located very close, sometimes close to the cells of the P. The intercellular spaces are densely innervated by the processes of these cells. Functionally, P cells belong to the central part of the nervous system. Their sizes are relatively small compared to the cells of the G. and M. nerve centers. Cell bodies fill a narrow layer of the central nervous system.