<p><strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multipolar_neuron" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Multipolar neurons</a></strong> have multiple inputs (dendritic connections), and one output (the axon).There are also <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retina_bipolar_cell" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bipolar cells</a></strong> in the retina, these have one dendrite (input) and one axon (output) <a href="http://webvision.med.utah.edu/book/part-v-phototransduction-in-rods-and-cones/bipolar-cell-pathways-in-the-vertebrate-retina/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Nelson &amp; Connaughton, 2012)</a>.</p>

<p>Regarding <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrite" rel="nofollow noreferrer">dendrites</a></strong>:
A striking example are the Purkinje cells in the cortex. These cells have elaborate dendritic trees making 100,000 to 200,000 connections, but still there is just one axon. Hence they integrate massive amounts of (sensory) information and funnel it into one output signal <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10865/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Purves <em>et al</em>., 2002)</a>.</p>

<p>Hence, dependent on the cell type, neurons can have <strong>one or as many as 200k</strong> dendritic connections. </p>

<p>Regarding <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axon" rel="nofollow noreferrer">axon terminals</a></strong>:
As far as I am aware, <strong>all neurons have just one axon</strong>. The axon can target neurons along the way (<em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axon" rel="nofollow noreferrer">en passant</a></em>) and the axon can terminate in multiple terminals contacting various cells. Some neurons contain one terminal (e.g. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retina_bipolar_cell" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bipolar cells</a>), others as many as <strong>thousands of terminals</strong> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/axon-hillock" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Brady <em>et al</em>., 2012)</a>.</p>

<p>The only situation where multiple axons arise from one cell is when the axon bifurcates along the way, sending one or more <em><a href="https://www.getbodysmart.com/nerve-cells/axon" rel="nofollow noreferrer">collaterals</a></em> from the axon off back to the cell. Basically, the neuron has still just one axonal output, but collateral regulatory info is sent off back to the cell.</p>

<p>There are situations where multiple axons arise, but that occurs only in neurons that have been tinkered around with genetically.</p>

<p><sub><strong>References</strong><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/axon-hillock" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Brady <em>et al</em>., <em>Basic Neurochemistry</em>. 8<sup>th</sup> ed (2012)</a><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="http://webvision.med.utah.edu/book/part-v-phototransduction-in-rods-and-cones/bipolar-cell-pathways-in-the-vertebrate-retina/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Nelson &amp; Connaughton, Bipolar Cell Pathways in the Vertebrate Retina. In: <em>Webvision</em> (2012)</a><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10865/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Purves <em>et al</em>. (eds), <em>Neuroscience</em>. 2<sup>nd</sup> ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates</a></sub></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-24T13:13:24.317Z
Thanks! (Who wrote Tao of Life?)  I think a more thorough explanation on the "thousands of terminals" would be more useful, but you definitely answered the question.  (For instance, do we find 1-3,000? 1,000-10,000? 1-200,000? just as many as we find dendritic connections? Etc.)
Colin Morgan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-30T05:11:04.280Z
If that is the case then most of the dendrites should be "un"connected.
aftab
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-24T07:16:52.980Z
2018-03-05T08:51:01.223Z
2018-03-05T08:51:01.223Z
AliceD
<p>I find countless places stating that neurons have tens of thousands of "connections" or "synapses" and <strong>one axon</strong>.</p>

<p>Do neurons have tens of thousands of dendrite connections, and a few axon <strong>terminals</strong>; or a few dendrite connections and tens of thousands of axon terminals; or tens of thousands of each?</p>

<p>When a neuron's action potential is triggered, how many other neurons does it affect?</p>

<neuroscience><neurophysiology>
How many dendrite connections vs axon terminals does a multipolar cerebral neuron have?
Colin Morgan
# How many dendrite connections vs axon terminals does a multipolar cerebral neuron have?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-24)

I find countless places stating that neurons have tens of thousands of "connections" or "synapses" and **one axon**.

Do neurons have tens of thousands of dendrite connections, and a few axon **terminals**; or a few dendrite connections and tens of thousands of axon terminals; or tens of thousands of each?

When a neuron's action potential is triggered, how many other neurons does it affect?

**Tags:** neuroscience, neurophysiology


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-01-24. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

**[Multipolar neurons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multipolar_neuron)** have multiple inputs (dendritic connections), and one output (the axon).There are also **[bipolar cells](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retina_bipolar_cell)** in the retina, these have one dendrite (input) and one axon (output) [(Nelson & Connaughton, 2012)](http://webvision.med.utah.edu/book/part-v-phototransduction-in-rods-and-cones/bipolar-cell-pathways-in-the-vertebrate-retina/).

Regarding **[dendrites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrite)**:
A striking example are the Purkinje cells in the cortex. These cells have elaborate dendritic trees making 100,000 to 200,000 connections, but still there is just one axon. Hence they integrate massive amounts of (sensory) information and funnel it into one output signal [(Purves *et al*., 2002)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10865/).

Hence, dependent on the cell type, neurons can have **one or as many as 200k** dendritic connections.

Regarding **[axon terminals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axon)**:
As far as I am aware, **all neurons have just one axon**. The axon can target neurons along the way (*[en passant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axon)*) and the axon can terminate in multiple terminals contacting various cells. Some neurons contain one terminal (e.g. [bipolar cells](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retina_bipolar_cell)), others as many as **thousands of terminals** [(Brady *et al*., 2012)](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/axon-hillock).

The only situation where multiple axons arise from one cell is when the axon bifurcates along the way, sending one or more *[collaterals](https://www.getbodysmart.com/nerve-cells/axon)* from the axon off back to the cell. Basically, the neuron has still just one axonal output, but collateral regulatory info is sent off back to the cell.

There are situations where multiple axons arise, but that occurs only in neurons that have been tinkered around with genetically.

**References**  
**-** [Brady *et al*., *Basic Neurochemistry*. 8th ed (2012)](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/axon-hillock)  
**-** [Nelson & Connaughton, Bipolar Cell Pathways in the Vertebrate Retina. In: *Webvision* (2012)](http://webvision.med.utah.edu/book/part-v-phototransduction-in-rods-and-cones/bipolar-cell-pathways-in-the-vertebrate-retina/)  
**-** [Purves *et al*. (eds), *Neuroscience*. 2nd ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10865/)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks! (Who wrote Tao of Life?)  I think a more thorough explanation on the "thousands of terminals" would be more useful, but you definitely answered the question.  (For instance, do we find 1-3,000? 1,000-10,000? 1-200,000? just as many as we find dendritic connections? Etc.)  
> **username_2**: If that is the case then most of the dendrites should be "un"connected.  

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