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Related Concept Videos

Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells01:31

Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells

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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.
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Glial Cells01:04

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Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue01:15

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In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...
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Neurulation01:30

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Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the...
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Nervous Tissue: Myelin01:25

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The myelin sheath is a multilayered lipid and protein covering that insulates the axon of a neuron, enhancing the speed of nerve impulse conduction. Axons without this sheath are referred to as unmyelinated. Two types of neuroglia, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) are responsible for producing myelin sheaths.
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Nervous Tissue: Neuron Types01:19

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Neurons, the fundamental units of the nervous system, can be classified based on both their structural and functional characteristics.
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Updated: Aug 24, 2025

Dissection and Isolation of Murine Glia from Multiple Central Nervous System Regions
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Evolution of neuroglia.

Alexei Verkhratsky1,2,3,4,5, Amaia M Arranz2,3, Katarzyna Ciuba6

  • 1Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|October 26, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The evolution of the nervous system involved increasing complexity in glial cells, particularly astrocytes. In the human brain, specialized astrocytes may play a role in neural communication and integration.

Keywords:
astrogliaevolutionmicrogliamyelinneurogliaoligodendroglia

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The nervous system evolved through cellular diversification and functional specialization.
  • It comprises electrically excitable neuronal networks and nonexcitable glial cells supporting homeostasis and defense.
  • Neuroglia evolved alongside the centralized nervous system, increasing in complexity over time.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the evolutionary trajectory of neuroglia, focusing on astrocyte complexity.
  • To investigate the potential role of novel astroglial cell types in the primate and human brain.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of glial cell evolution across species.
  • Examination of astrocyte lineage diversification in primate and human brains.

Main Results:

  • Glial cell complexity has continuously increased throughout nervous system evolution.
  • The astrocyte lineage in the primate, especially human, brain exhibits exceptional complexity.
  • New types of astroglial cells have emerged, potentially mediating interlayer communication.

Conclusions:

  • Astrocyte evolution is a key aspect of nervous system advancement.
  • Specialized astrocytes in the human brain may be crucial for complex neural integration and communication.