Six Types of Glial Cells

A quick intro to neurons and glial cells. In particular, pay attention to the 6 types of glial cells (a select sample of all the gila).

1. Neurons

2. Neurons grow rapidly
before & after birth
Neurons

3. Neurons grow rapidly
before & after birth
Up to
50,000 per second
Neurons

4. Most are irreplaceable
Neurons

5. Most are irreplaceable
Neurons
Some last a lifetime

6. Winnowing=
Neurons
throwing out what you don’t need

7. Can’t do it by themselves
Neurons

8. Can’t do it by themselves
Neurons
Need glial cells

9. Glia
Need glial cells

10. Glia
Six Types Major Types

11. Glia
Radial glial cells
Six Types Major Types

12. Glia
Radial glial cells
Build a tree-like structure that
neurons climb to form the brain.
Six Types Major Types

13. Glia
Oligodendrocytes
Six Types Major Types

14. Glia
Oligodendrocytes
Myelinate (insulate) cells in
brain and spine.
Six Types Major Types

15. Glia
Schwann cells
Six Types Major Types

16. Glia
Schwann cells
Myelinate (insulate) cells in
peripheral system.
Six Types Major Types

17. Glia
Astrocytes
Six Types Major Types

18. Glia
Astrocytes
Hold CNS (central nervous
system) neurons in place.
Six Types Major Types

19. Glia
Satellite cells
Six Types Major Types

20. Glia
Satellite cells
Hold PNS (peripheral nervous
system) neurons in place.
Six Types Major Types

21. Glia
Microglia
Six Types Major Types

22. Glia
Microglia
Help clean up brain, since it
doesn’t have an immune system.
Six Types Major Types

23. Microglia
Astrocytes
Satellite
Oligodendrocytes
Myelinating Schwann cells
Radial
Glial Cells

24. biologicalpsych.com