Climbing fiber
2412194
201502513
2008-03-28T04:13:49Z
Arcadian
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{{Infobox_neuron
|neuron_name = Climbing fiber
|image_neuron = CerebCircuit.png
|caption_neuron= Microcircuitry of the cerebellum. [[Excitatory synapses]] are denoted by (+) and [[inhibitory synapses]] by (-). Climbing fiber is shown originating from the inferior olive (green).
|location = [[Inferior Olive]] and [[Cerebellum]]
|function = Unique excitatory function (see text)
|neurotranmitter = [[Glutamate]]
|morphology = Unique projection neuron (see text)
|afferents = [[Inferior olive]]
|efferents = [[Purkinje cells]]
|GraySubject = 187
|GrayPage = 796
}}
{{Unreferenced|date=January 2007}}
'''Climbing fibers''' are the name given to a series of [[neuron|neuronal]] projections from the [[inferior olivary nucleus]] located in the [[medulla]].
These [[axon]]s pass through the [[pons]] and enter the [[cerebellum]] where they form [[synapse]]s with the [[Cerebellum#Deep Nuclei|deep cerebellar nuclei]] and [[Purkinje cell]]s. Each climbing fiber will form synapses with 1-10 Purkinje cells.
Early in development, Purkinje cells are innervated by multiple climbing fibers, but as the cerebellum matures, these inputs gradually become eliminated resulting in a single climbing fiber input per Purkinje cell.
These fibers provide very powerful, [[excitatory]] input to the cerebellum which results in the generation of complex spikes in Purkinje cells.
Climbing fiber activation is thought to serve as a motor error signal sent to the cerebellum, and is an important signal for [[motor timing]].
These Climbing fibres carry information to various sources such as the [[spinal cord]], [[vestibular system]], [[red nucleus]], [[superior colliculus]], [[reticular formation]] and sensory and motor cortices.
==External links==
* {{NeuroanatomyWisc|cere/text/P4/climb.htm}}
{{neuroanatomy-stub}}
{{Cerebellum}}
[[Category:Central nervous system]]
[[Category:Cerebellum]]
[[Category:Brainstem]]