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13.4: Glia (Neuroglia) Cells

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    Glia (Neuroglia) Cells

    Illustrations of the types of neuroglia. Central Nervous System: ependymal cells, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglia. Peripheral Nervous System: satellite cells, Schwann cells

    Above: Illustrations of the six types of glia cells. Ependymal cells, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and microglia are found in the CNS only. Satellite cells and

    Schwann cells are found in the PNS only. Both oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells wrap around axons of neurons forming myelin sheaths. Both astrocytes and satellite cells protect cell bodies from chemicals found in other tissues such as the blood. Ependymal cells protect neurons by producing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Microglia protect neurons by removing debris from nervous tissue.

    Neurons are central to the functionality of the nervous system since they carry signals, thereby enabling collection of sensory information, processing of information, and transmission of motor commands. However, neurons are sensitive cells that need protection and support from glia cells. Examine the table below describing the six different types of glia cells, their functions, and whether they are found in the CNS or in the PNS.

    Glia Cells

    Function

    Cells in CNS

    Cells in PNS

    oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells

    cells that wrap axons in myelin sheaths (glial membrane extensions) that increase action potential velocity

    oligodendrocytes

    (one cell branches to wrap around multiple axons)

    Schwann cells

    (one cell wraps around one axon segment)

    astrocytes, satellite cells, ependymal cells

    cells that form borders between nervous tissues and other body tissues (protection)

    astrocytes

    ependymal cells (make CSF)

    Satellite cells

    microglia

    immune cells that clear cellular debris from nervous tissues

    microglia

    --

    Illustration of the neuroglia of the central nervous system.

    Above: Diagram above shows the four types of glia cells of the central nervous system with neurons. Oligodendrocytes have multiple branches to myelinate multiple axon segments. Astrocytes wrap around blood vessels to protect neurons from substances that might interfere with neuron function. Microglia are mobile and patrol around nervous tissue to remove debris. Ependymal cells line the ventricles in the brain and the central canal in the spinal cord to create cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

    Microscopic image and diagram of a peripheral nervous system neuron with axon wrapped by Schwann cells. This enables saltatory conduction of an action potential where the action potential skips sections of the axon and only effects the exposed regions of axon resulting in faster action potentials.

    Above: (Bottom) Diagram showing Schwann cells wrapped around the axon of a neuron in the PNS. Schwann cells create myelin sheaths insulating the axon to increase the rate of propagation of an action potential. A cross section of the Schwann cell with its axon segment shows that the Schwann cell coils around the axon with its nucleus at a peripheral location. (Top) Microscopic image of axons (red) within a nerve (in the PNS). Wrapped around the axons are Schwann cells (green) creating myelin sheaths. The nuclei of Schwann cells are shown in blue.

    This page titled 13.4: Glia (Neuroglia) Cells is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Rosanna Hartline.

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