046 



HANDBOOK OP PHYSIOLOGY. 



tion, and if one makes a section down through the centre of the convo- 

 lution, in its longitudinal course, a side view of the cell only is shown 

 (fig. 389). 



The cells of Purkinje give off at their under surface a neuraxon 

 which runs down into the white matter of the cerebellum. Lying 

 throughout the molecular layer are the stellate cells, which are much 

 smaller in size, and which give off a number of dendrites (fig. 388A). 



Each cell has also an axis-cylinder (neuraxon) and this sends off col- 

 laterals which end in a fine basket-like network which surrounds the 



molecular 

 layer 



granule 

 granule 



Fig. 389A. A, Afferent fibre to basket (stellate) cell: B, neuraxon of Purkinj6 cell; C, afferent 

 fibre to Purkiuje cell; D, afferent (mossy) fibre to granule cell. 



body of the cells of Purkinje (fig. 389A). On this account they are some 

 times called basket-cells. There are other stellate-shaped cells in the 

 molecular layer which lie more superficially, and do not have this partic- 

 ular connection with the Purkinje cells, but appear, however, to belong 

 to the same type. 



The granular layer contains a large number of very small granular- 

 like cells that Golgi was the first to show were really nerve cells. They 

 are only about 5/j. in diameter, and they have a number of short den- 

 drites which end in clubbed extremities. They give off a very fine axis- 

 cylinder process (neuraxon) which runs up into the molecular layer and 

 there divides in a T-shaped fashion, the fibres running parallel to the 

 surface of the convolution and passing in between the branches of the 

 cells of Purkinje. There are, besides these granular cells, a few larger 

 cells, with axis-cylinders, that divide and subdivide, ending in a finely 

 ramifying plexus. These are known as the cells of Golgi. They are 

 found in other parts of the brain. 



The white substance of the cerebellum consists of nerve-fibres, which 



