neuroglia

1 9.8

Cells in the brain and spinal cord that support and protect nerve cells

noun
/nʊəˈroʊɡliə/

Specialized

: neuroglía

In the brain, neuroglia outnumber neurons significantly.

Examples

Neuroglia play a crucial role in supporting neuroglia and maintaining the health of the nervous system.
Damage to the neuroglia can impair the support function of the central nervous system.
Astrocytes are a type of neuroglia that help maintain the blood-brain barrier.
Research on neuroglia has led to new insights into brain health and disease.
The neuroglia play a crucial role in supporting neurons.
The brain contains various types of neuroglia that help to protect and nourish the neurons.
Researchers are studying how neuroglia contribute to the repair of damaged nerve cells.

Synonyms

glia

vsneuroglia

Specialized

2 9.4

Cells in the brain that support and protect nerve cells

is the collective supporting tissue made of those cells rather than the individual cells

Surface Forms

neuroglia singular

neuroglia plural

Morphology

neuroglia = glia (opaque) = neuro + glia

Although the term is structurally analyzable as neuro- + glia, the resulting specialized meaning is technical and not recoverable for an average B1 learner from the base word alone.

Etymology

Neuroglia comes from the Greek parts neuro- ('nerve') and glia ('glue'), and you can see the same neuro- in neuron. So, think of neuroglia as the 'glue' that holds and supports the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.