Editing Pyramidal cell (section)

{{Short description|Projection neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus}}
{{Infobox neuron
|name = Pyramidal cell
|image = GolgiStainedPyramidalCell.jpg
|caption = A human [[Neocortex|neocortical]] pyramidal cell stained via [[Golgi's method]]. The [[apical dendrite]] extends vertically above the [[Soma (biology)|soma]] (cell body) and the numerous [[basal dendrite]]s radiate laterally from the base of the cell body.
|location = [[Cerebral cortex#Layer III|Layer III]] and [[Cerebral cortex#Layer V|layer V]] of the [[cerebral cortex]], the [[hippocampus]], and [[amygdala]]
|function = Excitatory projection neuron
|neurotransmitter = [[Glutamate]]
|morphology = Multipolar pyramidal
}}

'''Pyramidal cells''', or '''pyramidal neurons''', are a type of [[multipolar neuron]] found in areas of the [[brain]] including the [[cerebral cortex]], the [[hippocampus]], and the [[amygdala]]. Pyramidal cells are the primary excitation units of the mammalian [[prefrontal cortex]] and the [[corticospinal tract]]. One of the main structural features of the pyramidal neuron is the conic shaped [[soma (biology)|soma]], or cell body, after which the [[neuron]] is named. Other key structural features of the pyramidal cell are a single [[axon]], a large [[apical dendrite]], multiple [[basal dendrite]]s, and the presence of [[dendritic spines]].<ref name = "Megias">{{cite journal | vauthors = Megías M, Emri Z, Freund TF, Gulyás AI | title = Total number and distribution of inhibitory and excitatory synapses on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells | journal = Neuroscience | volume = 102 | issue = 3 | pages = 527–540 | year = 2001 | pmid = 11226691 | doi = 10.1016/S0306-4522(00)00496-6 | s2cid = 16458290 }}</ref> 

Pyramidal neurons are also one of two cell types where the [[pathognomonic|characteristic]] [[Medical sign|sign]], [[Negri bodies]], are found in [[post-mortem]] rabies infection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sketchymedical.com/sections/viruses-2-3-rhabdovirus|title=2.3 rhabdovirus|last=Sketchy Group, LLC|website=SketchyMedical|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413234842/https://www.sketchymedical.com/sections/viruses%2D2%2D3%2Drhabdovirus|archive-date=2017-04-13|url-status=dead|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Pyramidal neurons were first discovered and studied by [[Santiago Ramón y Cajal]].<ref name="Elston">{{cite journal | vauthors = Elston GN | title = Cortex, cognition and the cell: new insights into the pyramidal neuron and prefrontal function | journal = Cerebral Cortex | volume = 13 | issue = 11 | pages = 1124–1138 | date = November 2003 | pmid = 14576205 | doi = 10.1093/cercor/bhg093 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name = "Pablo">{{cite journal | vauthors = García-López P, García-Marín V, Freire M | title = Three-dimensional reconstruction and quantitative study of a pyramidal cell of a Cajal histological preparation | journal = The Journal of Neuroscience | volume = 26 | issue = 44 | pages = 11249–11252 | date = November 2006 | pmid = 17079652 | pmc = 6674523 | doi = 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3543-06.2006 }}</ref> Since then, studies on pyramidal neurons have focused on topics ranging from [[neuroplasticity]] to [[cognition]].
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