Final answer:
Oligodendrocytes are a type of glial cell in the CNS that myelinate axons, which is essential for quick and efficient signal transmission along neural pathways.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, oligodendrocytes are indeed responsible for myelinating axons of neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). These glial cell types extend their processes to wrap around the axons, providing segments with a myelin sheath. This sheathing is critical as it insulates the axons, allowing for faster and more efficient transmission of electrochemical signals.
Oligodendrocytes differ from Schwann cells, which myelinate axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). A single oligodendrocyte is capable of myelinating multiple axon segments, which can belong to the same or different neurons. This feature contrasts with Schwann cells, where each cell tends to myelinate only a single segment of an axon.
So, to reiterate, oligodendrocytes play a vital role in the CNS by creating the myelin insulation for axons, which helps maintain the rapid conduction of nervous impulses along neural pathways.