This week we continued to talk about the nervous system. There are four different neuroglia of the central nervous system. There are astrocytes, these are star shaped cells with many processes. These cells provide nutrients to neurons, take up excess neurontransmitters and they also act as components of the blood-brain barrier. This helps to maintain the right chemical environment for generation of nerve impulses. Then there are oligodendrocytes. These are smaller than astrocytes and they also have fewer processes. The oligodendrocytes form a supporting network around the central nervous system neurons. They also produce myelin sheath around several adjacent axons of central nervous system neurons. Another neuroglia of the centarl nervous system is microglia. These are small cells with few processes that have many small branches. The function of the microglia is to protect the cells of the central nervous system from disease by engulfing invading microbes. Microglia also migrates to areas of injured nerve tissue (this is where they clear away debris of dead cells) The fourth and final neruoglia of the central nervous system is the ependymal cells. These are epithelial cells arranged in a single layer. Theyrange in shape from cuboidal to columnar. Many of these cells are ciliated.
There are also two neuroglia that are part of the peripheral nervous system. One of those neuroglia are called schwann cells. Schwann cells are flattened cells that encircle peripheral nervouse sytem axons. Each of these cless surround multiple unmyelinated axons with a single layer of its plasma membrane or produces part of the myelin sheath around a single axon pf a peripheral nervous system neuron. They also participate in regeneration of the peripheral nervous system axons. The final neruoglia that are in the peripheral nervouse sytem are satellite cells. These are cells that are flattened and arranged around the cell bodies of neruons in ganglia. The function of the satellite cells is to support the neurons within the peripheral nervous system ganglia.
As you can see, these cells are viatal in our being. They are there to protect the nervous systems from pathogens and other foreign materials. They also provide structural protection. Without these cells we would be much more likely to get diseases. This can also be from just everyday things that can start to break the system down.
