Types of cells in nervous tissue

Glial Cell

Crucial non-neuronal cells in the nervous system that provide support, protection, and nutrition to neurons

Neuron

A nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system, responsible for transmitting information throughout the body via electrical and chemical signals

Cerebellum

Has significantly more neurons (around 69 billion) than glial cells (around 16 billion)

Cerebral Cortex

Contains more glial cells (around 60 billion) than neurons (around 16 billion)

Synapse

Location where neurons receive information from other neurons

Soma

Cell body

Axon

The fiber that connects a neuron with its target

Dendrite

Receive input from other neurons

Myelin

Lipid-rich insulation material found on axons

Node of Ranvier

Tiny, unmyelinated gaps along a myelinated axon that allow nerve impulses to "jump" between them–dramatically increasing signal speed and efficiency

Axon hillock

Region where axon emerges from the cell body

Axon terminal

• Synaptic end bulbs: bulbs at the axon terminal that make a connection with the target cell at the synapse

Gray matter

regions with many cell bodies and dendrites

White matter

region with many axons