Question

Differentiate between cell types in nervous system

Categorize each statement or characteristic below as descriptive of either neurons or glia, the two cell types comprising the nervous system.
Neurons:
-send and receive electrical and chemical signals
-possess projections know as dendrites and axons
-Transmit signals in and between the peripheral and the central nervous systems
Glia:
-Perform more cellular functions and are many times more numerous than the other cell type
-May function as stem cells to produce more glial cells and neurons
-support and protect cells that have transmit chemicals and electrical signals
-form a structure known as the myelin sheath

Answer 1

Neurons are specialized cells for transmitting signals in the nervous system, featuring dendrites and axons, while glial cells support and protect neurons, outnumbering them and performing diverse cellular functions including the formation of the myelin sheath.

Step-by-step explanation:

Differences Between Neurons and Glial Cells

The nervous system comprises two primary types of cells: neurons and glial cells (glia). Neurons are the principle units of communication in the nervous system, transmitting electrical and chemical signals throughout the body. Key attributes of neurons include their ability to send and receive signals, possession of dendrites and axons for signal transduction, and their role in transmitting signals across the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Conversely, glial cells provide crucial support functions for neurons. They outnumber neurons and offer insights into cellular functions that are more diverse, acting occasionally as stem cells to produce new glial cells and even neurons. Glia plays a role in protecting and supporting nerve cells, as well as in the formation of the myelin sheath—a structure essential for efficient signal transmission.