Biology / Unit 12 Bio 2819 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Glial Cell Types
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The idea
Glial cells support neurons without transmitting signals: astrocytes regulate the chemical environment and form the blood-brain barrier, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells produce myelin, and microglia clear debris.
In practice
One oligodendrocyte can myelinate several central-nervous-system axons, while a Schwann cell myelinates only one peripheral axon.
Where people slip
Glial cells make up a large share of brain tissue — "supporting cast" undersells how much they compose.
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