NEUROGLIAL OR GLIAL CELLS.

FUNCTION OF ASTROCYTES

A. Central nervous system

a. Ependymal cells – forms in epithelial lining

of ventricles (cavities) in the brain and cental
canal of the spinal chord

-Give rise to the epithelial laye surrounds the

choroid plexus, a network of blood vessels
located in the walls of lateral ventricles (the two
largest ventricles, which occur as a pair in the
cerebral hemispheres).

Choroid Plexus – forms the cerebrospinal fluid

or the CSF.

4 Division – Cerebrum, Cerebellum,

Diencephalon, Brain stem.
B. Astrocytes / Astroglia – Star shaped found
in nervous system in both intervertebrates and
vertebrates
-subdivide into two fibrous and protoplasmic
Fibrous astrocytes – Prevalent in myelinated
nerve fibers in the white matter of the CNS.
-The organelles are seen in neurons also seen
in astrocytes, but they appear to be much
sparser.
C. Microglia/Microcytes-are smallest of all
neuroglial
-Their nuclei are oval shaped and projecting out
from their cell bodies are slender elongated
processes that enable the cells to move via
chemotaxis (movement along a chemical
gradient)
-Know as mediate Immune responses in the
CNS by acting as macrophages, clearing cellular
debris and dead neurons from nervous tissue
through the process of phagocytosis (cell eating

-Characterized by the presence of numerous

fibrils in their cytoplasm.
-Main process exit the cell in radial direction
(hence the name astocyte, meaning ‘star
shaped cell’), forming expansions and end feet
at the surface of vascular capillaries.
Protoplasmic astrocytes – cells occur in gray
matter of CNS.
-Fewer fibril within their cytoplasm, and
cytoplasmic organelles are sparse, that the
soma or the body are shaped by surrounding
neurons and fibers
-Process are making contact with capillaries
D. Oligodendrocytes/Oligodendoglis (Cells
with a few branches)
-Main function are provide support and
insulation to axons in the CNS.
-Schwann cells in PNS.
-Create the myelin sheath, which in 80% lipid
and 20% protein.
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
A. SATELLITE CELLS OR MYOSATELLITE
CELLS -small flattened cells found in ganglia of
PNS

Ganglion – collection of cell bodies

-Dorsal root of ganglia located on either side os

spinal cord contain the most prominent satellite
cells.
-It also knows as muscle stem cells, are small
multipotent cells with verry little cytoplasm found
in mature muscle

-The oldest known adult stem cells niche, are

involved in the normal growth of muscle, as well
as regeneration following injury disease.

SCHWANN CELLS/ NEURILEMMA CELLS –

In PNS that produce myelin sheath around
neuronal axons.

-The most important supporting cells found in

PNS which insulate nerve fibers

-Equivalent to a type of oligodendrocytes CNS

-The most important fuction is myelinated the

axons of PNS.

MYELIN- a fatty layer that insulates the axons,

helps to increase the saltatory conduction of the
neuron.

MYELINATING SCHWANN CELLS WRAP

AROUND A SINGLE AXON.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE HUMAN BODY