HUMAN NEUROANATOMY

Neuroglial cells playa variety of roles in the CNS. Astrocytes appear to influence the transport of materials to the neurons of the central nervous system as well as to function to maintain an appropriate ionic environment for the neurons. Oligodendrocytes are responsible for myelinating the neurons of the central nervous system. However, unlike a single Schwann cell, which can only myelinate a single axon, each oligodendrocyte can myelinate the axons of several CNS neurons. As previously mentioned, microgliocytes are probably not of CNS origin at all. They are small cells of various forms with slender, branched processes which migrate into the CNS and act as phagocytes scavenging for waste products and breakdown components of CNS neurons.