🔬general biology i review

key term - Oligodendrocytes

Definition

Oligodendrocytes are a type of glial cell found in the central nervous system. They produce myelin, which insulates axons to facilitate rapid transmission of electrical signals.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Oligodendrocytes can myelinate multiple axons simultaneously.
  2. They are crucial for maintaining the integrity and efficiency of neural communication.
  3. Diseases such as multiple sclerosis involve damage to oligodendrocytes and their myelin sheaths.
  4. Oligodendrocytes originate from oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) in the brain and spinal cord.
  5. Unlike Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, which myelinate single axons, oligodendrocytes can extend their processes to multiple neurons.

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