Cells of the Brain


Cells of the Brain

The brain is made up of two types of cells:

Nerve Cells

There are many sizes and shapes of neurons, but all consist of a cell body, dendrites and an axon. The neuron conveys information through electrical and chemical signals and has many arms called dendrites, which act like antennae picking up messages from other nerve cells. These messages are passed to the cell body, which determines if the message should be passed along. Important messages are passed to the end of the axon where sacs containing neurotransmitters open into the synapse.

Glia Cells

Glia are the cells of the brain that provide neurons with nourishment, protection, and structural supportand are the most common type of cells involved in brain tumors.