Final answer:
Microglia are the name of the glial cells that function as phagocytes in the CNS, providing protection for neurons by destroying pathogens and damaged cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The glial cells that act as phagocytes to aid in protecting central nervous system (CNS) neurons are called microglia.The glial cells that act as phagocytes to aid in protecting CNS neurons are called Microglia. Microglia are smaller glial cells that function as phagocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) to ingest and digest diseased or damaged cells or pathogens that cause disease.
Microglia are specialized glial cells found within the CNS, including the brain and spinal cord, and they fulfill the role of immune defense. These cells are similar to macrophages in that they seek out and destroy pathogens, as well as damaged or diseased cells within the CNS. They can be thought of as the brain's resident immune cells or CNS-resident macrophages. The origin of microglia is not conclusively determined, but they are thought to arise from white blood cells during early development. They maintain the health of the central nervous system by performing immune surveillance and enacting a protective mechanism against infection, acting as the primary form of active immune defense in the CNS.