Understanding Neurons and Neuroglia in the Nervous System

1. Basic Functions:

   • Neurons: These are special cells that help send electrical signals all over the nervous system. They are super important for processing and sharing information.
   • Neuroglia: These cells help support, protect, and take care of neurons. Unlike neurons, they don’t send electrical signals.

2. Types:

   • Neurons: There are three main types of neurons:
     • Sensory neurons (about 10 million)
     • Motor neurons (around 1 million)
     • Interneurons (roughly 100 billion)
   • Neuroglia: There are different types, like astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, and Schwann cells. In fact, there are about 10 neuroglia cells for every neuron!

3. Structural Characteristics:

   • Neurons: They have a cell body, branches called dendrites, and a long part called an axon.
   • Neuroglia: These cells come in various shapes and sizes, but they usually don’t have axons or dendrites.

4. Regenerative Capacity:

   • Neurons: If they get injured, they can't heal very well.
   • Neuroglia: They can grow back and help fix injuries. This makes them really important in the healing process.

Knowing the difference between neurons and neuroglia is key to understanding how our nervous system works!