Glia Flashcards
What are glia?
They surround neurons and provide insulation.
What are the four types of vertebrate glial cell?
Astroglia, microglia, oligodendroglia, schwann cells.
What is the function of astroglia?
Star-shaped, symmetrical, nutritive and have a support function.
What are the features and function of microglia?
Small, mesodermally derived, have a defensive function.
What is the feature and function of oligodendroglia?
Asymmetrical, form myeline, around axons in brain and spinal cord.
What are the features and functions of Schwann cells?
Asymmetrical, wrap around the peripheral nerves to form myelin.
What are neural cells?
Neurons and glia.
What are neuronal cells?
Neurons.
What cells are included in glia?
Macroglia and microglia.
What cells are included in macroglia?
Astrocytes, radial glia, oligodendroglia and schwann cells.
What do oligodendroglia act as?
CNS myelin.
What do schwann cells act as?
PNS myelin.
What are the types of myelinating glia?
Oligodendroglia and Schwann cells.
What is myelination important for?
Increasing the rate of action potential transmission.
What are the other types of glia?
Radial glia.
What is the function of radial glia?
Embryonic scaffold throughout the CNS, guides for radial migration of neurons and produce matrix and adhesion proteins.
What happens to radial glia in adults?
Radial glia persist in the cerebellum and in the retina.
What are radial glia called in the cerebellum?
Bergmann glia.
What are radial glia called in the retina?
Muller cells.
What are ependymal cells?
They line central canal and ventricles of the brain and have beating cilia when lining the ventricles.
What types of cells are ependymal cells?
They are cuboidal cells but they have no basement membrane.
What do specialised ependymal cells participate in?
The secretion of cerebral spinal fluid.
What does cerebral spinal fluid contain?
Nutrients important for the brains wellbeing.
What cells originate from the neural tube?
The neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.