Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Glial Cells

Glial Cells

Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells

Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells

Glia, or neuroglia, are vital support cells that assist neurons in their functions. The term "glia" originates from the Greek word for "glue," reflecting their role in holding the nervous system together. These cells can be categorized into six types: four in the central nervous system (CNS) and two in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
The CNS glial cell includes the astrocytes, the oligodendrocytes, the microglia, and the ependymal cells.
Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells that interact...

Neuron Structure

Neuron Structure

Neurons are the main type of cell in the nervous system that generate and transmit electrochemical signals. They primarily communicate with each other using neurotransmitters at specific junctions called synapses. Neurons come in many shapes that often relate to their function, but most share three main structures: an axon and dendrites that extend out from a cell body.
Structure and Function of Neurons
The neuronal cell body—the soma— houses the nucleus and organelles vital to cellular...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Referral, treatment patterns and change in quality of life in the first twelve months in children and young people with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: an analysis of the association with ethnicity and socioeconomic position using data from a cohort study.

Rheumatology (Oxford, England)·2026

Same author

Holistic management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis across all ages: British Society for Rheumatology Guideline scope.

Rheumatology advances in practice·2026

Same author

Language Processing in Posterior Fossa Tumour Patients: Psycholinguistic Insights into the Word-Finding Ability.

Cerebellum (London, England)·2026

Same author

Analysis of Presurgical Language in Children with Posterior Fossa Tumours Relative to Postoperative Speech Outcomes: Findings from the European CMS Study.

Cerebellum (London, England)·2026

Same author

Neurosurgical practice and its influence on postoperative paediatric cerebellar mutism syndrome-the Alder Hey experience.

Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery·2026

Same author

Evaluating antibiotic medications delivered through elastomeric devices in a paediatric population: a systematic review.

Archives of disease in childhood·2025

Same journal

Comment on: "The Efficacy and Safety of Bevacizumab/Irinotecan/Temozolomide (BIT) for Relapsed/Refractory Neuroblastoma: The UK Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group Experience"-The Evolving Role of the BIT Regimen.

Pediatric blood & cancer·2026

Same journal

Extramedullary Intradural Spinal Tumor in an Infant With Neurocutaneous Melanosis.

Pediatric blood & cancer·2026

Same journal

The Role of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Ataxia-Telangiectasia.

Pediatric blood & cancer·2026

Same journal

Pediatric T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma With T(9;17) and MIR142HG::NOTCH1 Fusion Successfully Treated by Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in First Complete Remission.

Pediatric blood & cancer·2026

Same journal

Reply to: Comment on: Investigating Biomarkers for Inborn Errors of Immunity in a Prospective Study of Patients With Autoimmune Cytopenia.

Pediatric blood & cancer·2026

Same journal

Comment on: Investigating Biomarkers for Inborn Errors of Immunity in a Prospective Study of Patients With Autoimmune Cytopenia.

Pediatric blood & cancer·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Modeling Astrocytoma Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo Using Cortical Astrocytes or Neural Stem Cells from Conditional, Genetically Engineered Mice

Modeling Astrocytoma Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo Using Cortical Astrocytes or Neural Stem Cells from Conditional, Genetically Engineered Mice

Published on: August 12, 2014

Diffuse central nervous system protoplasmic astrocytoma.

Sue Manley¹, Daniel Crooks, Libby Artingstall

¹Department of Paediatric Oncology, Alder Hey Childrens' NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK. sue.manley@alderhey.nhs.uk

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

|January 6, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A rare diffuse protoplasmic astrocytoma in a child presented with widespread meningeal disease, challenging diagnosis. This case highlights an unusual presentation of low-grade glioma with extensive parenchymal and leptomeningeal involvement.

More Related Videos

Protocol for Three-dimensional Confocal Morphometric Analysis of Astrocytes

Protocol for Three-dimensional Confocal Morphometric Analysis of Astrocytes

Published on: December 11, 2015

A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)

A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)

Published on: March 7, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Modeling Astrocytoma Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo Using Cortical Astrocytes or Neural Stem Cells from Conditional, Genetically Engineered Mice

Modeling Astrocytoma Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo Using Cortical Astrocytes or Neural Stem Cells from Conditional, Genetically Engineered Mice

Published on: August 12, 2014

Protocol for Three-dimensional Confocal Morphometric Analysis of Astrocytes

Protocol for Three-dimensional Confocal Morphometric Analysis of Astrocytes

Published on: December 11, 2015

A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)

A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)

Published on: March 7, 2017

Area of Science:

Pediatric neuro-oncology
Neuropathology

Background:

Protoplasmic astrocytoma is a rare, low-grade glioma (WHO Grade II), typically presenting as a localized mass.
Diagnosis can be challenging, especially in pediatric cases with atypical presentations.

Observation:

A 3-year-old female presented with symptoms suggestive of a brain tumor.
Initial diagnostic attempts, including three superficial biopsies, were inconclusive.
The tumor exhibited diffuse parenchymal involvement and leptomeningeal spread, an uncommon pattern for this glioma type.

Findings:

The diagnosis of diffuse protoplasmic astrocytoma was confirmed 8 months after initial presentation via a fourth, deeper cerebellar biopsy.
This case represents a distinct presentation of protoplasmic astrocytoma with extensive diffuse meningeal disease.

Implications:

This case underscores the importance of considering rare presentations of low-grade gliomas in pediatric patients.
Delayed diagnosis in this case led to a progressive clinical course, emphasizing the need for thorough diagnostic evaluation.
Highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by diffuse leptomeningeal gliomas and the potential need for more extensive biopsies.