Dendrons

Dendrons is a term rooted in the Greek word dendron, meaning tree. In biology, it is used to describe branching, tree-like projections of cells or tissues. The most common contemporary usage appears in neuroscience, where a dendron refers to a branching projection of a neuron that receives synaptic input from other neurons. The neuron’s dendritic arbor consists of multiple dendrons and their branches, which increases surface area for synaptic connections and plays a key role in how electrical signals are integrated. Dendrons differ from axons, which typically carry signals away from the cell body.

The morphology of dendrons—how they branch, their length, and the presence of dendritic spines—affects neuronal input processing, signal attenuation, and synaptic plasticity. Changes in dendritic structure are associated with development, learning, and various neurological conditions, making dendritic architecture a focus of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology.

Beyond neuroscience, the term dendron may appear in older or more general texts to describe any tree-like or ramified branching structure in biology. In modern scientific writing, however, dendron is often used as a historical or descriptive variant, while dendrite is the standard term for the neuronal projection responsible for receiving inputs. When multiple such projections are discussed, the plural dendrons is used.