1. NERVE CELLS IMAGES

2. Retinal ganglion cell BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM
Scanning electron micrograph of an isolated retinal ganglion cell. This is a type of neuron, typically located near the inner surface of the eye’s retina, that receives visual information from photoreceptors via two intermediate neuron types. Retinal ganglion cells collectively transmit visual information from the retina to several regions in the thalamus, hypothalamus and midbrain. They vary significantly in terms of their size, connections, and responses to visual stimulation but they all share the defining property of having a long axon that extends into the brain. These axons form the optic nerve, optic chiasm and optic tract.
Credit: Annie Cavanagh, Wellcome Images.
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3. Pyramidal neurons
Confocal microscopy image showing layer 5 pyramidal neurons from a cortical brain slice. Neurons were visualised using a fluorescent calcium indicator. Pyramidal cells are so-called as they have a pyramid-shaped cell body (or soma); they have long, branching dendrites. They are found in the forebrain (cortex and hippocampus) of mammals and are thought to be involved in cognitive function.
Credit: Prof. M Hausser, UCL, Wellcome Images.

4. Neurons in the hippocampus
Fluorescence microscopy image of hippocampal neurons labelled with an antibody against the GluR1 subtype of glutamate receptors.
Credit: AJ Irving, Wellcome Images
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5. Neurons in the cerebellum
Phase contrast light microscopy image of neurons in the human cerebellum. The cerebellum is the posterior part of the brain that coordinates sensory inputs and muscular responses. The large cell bodies belong to Purkinje cells. This was a thick section, silver-stained and counterstained.
Credit: Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
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6. Neurons in the brain BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM
Colour-enhanced light microscopy image of pyramidal neurons forming a network in the brain. These are nerve cells from the cerebral cortex that have one large apical dendrite and several basal dendrites.
Credit: Dr Jonathan Clarke, Wellcome Images.
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7. Neuronal network in the cerebellum
Fluorescence microscopy image showing the cerebellar network of Purkinje neurons from a mouse. The neurons are visualised by labelling the cells with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Purkinje cells are specialised neurons found in layers within the cerebellum (at the back of the brain). In humans they are one of the longest types of neurons in the brain and are involved in transmitting motor output from the cerebellum.
Credit: Prof. M Hausser, UCL, Wellcome Images
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8. Reusing our images Images and illustrations
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Cartoon illustrations are © Glen McBeth. We commission Glen to produce these illustrations for ‘Big Picture’. He is happy for teachers and students to use his illustrations in a classroom setting, but for other uses, permission must be sought.
We source other images from photo libraries such as Science Photo Library, Corbis and iStock and will acknowledge in an image’s credit if this is the case. We do not hold the rights to these images, so if you would like to reproduce them, you will need to contact the photo library directly.
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