Glia | |
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![]() Illustration of the four different types of glial cells found in the central nervous system: ependymal cells (light pink), astrocytes (green), microglial cells (dark red) and oligodendrocytes (light blue) | |
Details | |
Precursor | Neuroectoderm for macroglia, and hematopoietic stem cells for microglia |
System | Nervous system |
Identifiers | |
MeSH | D009457 |
TA98 | A14.0.00.005 |
TH | H2.00.06.2.00001 |
FMA | 54536 54541, 54536 |
Anatomical terms of microanatomy |
Glia, also called glial cells (gliocytes) or neuroglia, are non-neuronal cells in the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) and in the peripheral nervous system that do not produce electrical impulses. The neuroglia make up more than one half the volume of neural tissue in the human body.[1] They maintain homeostasis, form myelin, and provide support and protection for neurons.[2] In the central nervous system, glial cells include oligodendrocytes (that produce myelin), astrocytes, ependymal cells and microglia, and in the peripheral nervous system they include Schwann cells (that produce myelin), and satellite cells.