Purkinje cells have huge, flat branches that spread out like a fan. They help you balance on one foot and catch a ball.
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Purkinje cells live in the cerebellum, a wrinkly part at the back and bottom of your brain.
Each one has a big, round cell body and a huge tree of dendrites. The tree is very wide but very flat, like a paper fan. They are some of the biggest neurons in your brain.
A Czech scientist named Jan Purkinje first spotted these cells in 1837. That is why they have his name!
The fan of branches catches messages from many, many other cells. The Purkinje cell sorts them out and helps make your movements smooth and on time.
Thanks to them, you can ride a bike, walk without wobbling, and touch your nose with your eyes closed.
Stand on one foot for 10 seconds. Your cerebellum and its Purkinje cells are helping you balance! Then press Light up the branches on the 3D model.
By Neuroscientifically Challenged. Good for older kids.
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