Cells of the Nervous System
Neurons and their many types, the glial cells that support them, myelin, and the blood-brain barrier.
7 articles
Cells of the Nervous System
Intermediate
Microglia: The Brain's Immune Cells
Microglia constantly survey the brain, eat debris and invaders, prune unwanted synapses during development — and are now central suspects in Alzheimer's disease and other conditions.
August 14, 2026 · 2 min read
Cells of the Nervous System
Intermediate
The Blood-Brain Barrier
A tightly sealed lining of the brain's blood vessels keeps toxins and germs out — and most medicines too. How it works, how it was discovered, and why drug designers wrestle with it.
May 5, 2026 · 2 min read
Cells of the Nervous System
Beginner
Types of Neurons
Sensory neurons, motor neurons and interneurons; pyramidal cells, Purkinje cells and granule cells — how neurons are classified by job, by shape and by the genes they use.
April 26, 2026 · 2 min read
Cells of the Nervous System
Intermediate
Myelin and Oligodendrocytes
Myelin, the fatty insulation wrapped around axons by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells, speeds nerve signals up to around a hundred times — and its loss causes diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
April 13, 2026 · 2 min read
Cells of the Nervous System
Beginner
Glial Cells: The Other Half of the Brain
Long dismissed as 'glue', glial cells — astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells, microglia and ependymal cells — insulate, feed, clean, defend and even help shape communication between neurons.
January 28, 2026 · 2 min read
Cells of the Nervous System
Intermediate
Astrocytes
Star-shaped glial cells that wrap synapses, buffer chemicals, feed neurons, control blood flow and help build the blood-brain barrier — and may take part in processing information.
January 13, 2026 · 2 min read
Cells of the Nervous System
Beginner
The Neuron
The nerve cell is the basic signalling unit of the nervous system: dendrites gather inputs, the cell body integrates them, and the axon sends an electrical pulse to other cells.
November 6, 2025 · 2 min read