ALPHABETICAL BRAIN™ VOCABULARY DETAILS about GLIAL CELLS BRAIN FLASH CARD #6 WHAT ARE YOUR GLIAL CELLS AND WHY ARE THEY SO IMPORTANT? What is the purpose and function of your GLIAL CELLS? Your glial cells are the approximately 900 billion brain cells in your brain and nervous system that protect your 100 billion neurons. They are the specialized brain cells known as "white matter" which cover the axon filaments of your neurons with myelin sheaths. Your glial cells nourish and protect the axon filaments so the action potential spikes (biochemical signals) can flow through them faster and be insulated from the signals of other neurons. QUOTE NOTES: "They provide physical support for the thin dendrites and axons that wind their way around the neural network. They also supply nutrition for neurons in the form of sugars and raw materials for growth and repair." (The Human Brain Book, 2014, page 68) There are several types of glial cells, including oligodendrocytes, microglia, and astrocytes. "Oligodendrocytes make myelin sheathing, a task performed in peripheral nerves by Schwann cells, while microglia destroy invading microbes and clear up debris from degenerating neurons, and astrocytes affect the behavior of neurons and play a role in memory and sleep." (The Human Brain Book, 2014, page 68) Note: See neurons #2, dendrites #3, axons #4, nucleus #5, potentiation #7, plasticity #10, and cerebral cortex #12. INSTANTLY GO TO: FACT CHECKER FOR GLIAL CELLS #6 OR RETURN TO: GLIAL CELLS: BRAIN FLASH CARD #6 OR RETURN TO: LIST OF 15 FREE BRAIN FLASH CARDS