Neurons and Their Helpers

If you’ve studied the brain, you’ve probably heard of neurons. Neurons AKA nerve cells are special cells that are only found in your nervous system. They send information to other neurons, muscle cells, and gland cells using electricity. That’s right! Electricity’s not only found in your phones and lights. It also powers your body! Unlike your phones though, our neurons are able to charge themselves. Once the neuron charges up, it depolarizes and sends an action potential down through the cell so it can release chemicals called neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters that are released send a message to cells around it telling it to either turn on or turn off.

Interestingly enough, neurons aren’t the most common cell in your nervous system. Glial cells are. Glial cells support neurons but don’t use any electricity. They give neurons structure, remove the waste, and maintain the overall environment of the nervous system. There are five types of glia: astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, schwann and satellite. Astrocytes have many functions. They get their unique name from it’s starlike shape, which helps hold neurons in place. Astrocytes help recycle the neurotransmitters that get released from neurons. They also deliver nutrients from the blood to the neurons and keep toxins away from neurons. Microglia are macrophages that are activated after infection, injury, or disease. A macrophage’s job is to eat whatever is not supposed to be in the body and then kill it with acid. Oligodendrocytes and schwann cells myelinate neurons, which means that they wrap the neurons in a myelin coat that helps the electricity spread faster. Satellite cells help maintain the environment around the neurons. Glial cells are extremely important to the nervous system. Without them, neurons wouldn’t be able to get their job done!

Picture Source: biologydictionary.net