Glial cells, or neuroglia, are cells that surround the neurons of the central nervous system embedded between them, providing both structural and physiological support 1-3. Together they account for almost half of the total mass 1 and 90% of all cells of the central nervous system 3. These numbers are now contentious as a novel cell counting technique known as 'isotopic fractionation' has shown that the ratio between glial cells and neurons is actually one-to-one 4.
Glial cells are broadly divided into macroglia and microglia. Each cell type has specific distribution and function.
- macroglia
- microglia
History and etymology
The term glia is from the Ancient Greek for "glue", as initially these cells were thought to merely act as supporting structures for neurons.
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