Five Cell Types of the Nervous           System

The Nervous System has a large variety of supporting cells that all have an individual job that allows the system to compose properly.

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  • Astrocytes- The Astrocytes function is that it provides physical and metabolic support for the neurons.

  • Microglia- Microglia is a type of glial cell located in the brain and spinal cord. They act as the first and main form of active immune defense in the central nervous system.

  • Schwann Cells- Schwann cells form myelin sheath around large nerve fibers in PNS and are also phagocytic meaning they engulf damaged and dying nerve cells.
  • Satellite Cells- Satellite cells surround the nerve cell body and may aid in controlling the chemical environment of neurons.

Ependymal- An ependymal cell is a type of neuronal support cell (neuroglia) that forms the epithelial lining of the ventricles (cavities) within the brain and central canal of the spinal cord.