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glial cell

glial cell

1 6.9
A part of the brain and nerves that supports, protects, and helps nerve cells work
  • noun
  • /ˈɡlaɪəl sɛl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : célula glial
  • Glial cells play a crucial role in supporting the function of neurons in the nervous system.
  • glial cells in their brains

And it's so fascinating because we have these little cells in our brain called glial cells, and they shrink during deep sleep.

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Examples

  • So in a degenerative brain disease, glial cells are slowly dying off and the brain's atrophying.

  • And it's so fascinating because we have these little cells in our brain called glial cells, and they shrink during deep sleep.

  • The brain also has glial cells and white matter.

    Academic text (2010)
  • In the past ten years, some scientists have begun to focus their study on non-neuronal cells in the brain called glial cells.

    Academic text (2015)
  • In his book, The Other Brain, he makes the case that more than half the brain is made up of glial cells and that the discovery of what these cells do is crucial to improving our understanding of how the brain functions.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cell type and constitute about 40% of all the cells in the human brain.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Glial cells surround and support neurons, carry nutrients to neurons, and eat dead neurons.

    Academic text (2010)
  • And that destruction of synaptic function might suggest that glial cells have a role in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

  • People's actions and experiences influence myelination. When glial cells notice that a particular neural circuit is being fired repeatedly, such as when someone practices a motor skill, they wrap the axons in that circuit with myelin.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Research shows that glial cells help protect neurons and maintain their health.

Synonyms

glia
vsglial cell
  • Specialized
2 9.4

Cells in the brain that support and protect nerve cells

refers to a single cell type that supports, protects, and maintains neurons
neuroglia
vsglial cell
  • Specialized
1 9.8

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

names one cell type rather than the whole supportive tissue
neuroglial cell
vsglial cell
  • Specialized
7.7

A cell in the nervous system that supports and protects nerve cells

emphasizes keeping neuron function working not only protection
neurogliacyte
vsglial cell
  • Specialized
9.9

A cell that supports and protects nerve cells in the nervous system

focuses more on maintaining neuron function beyond merely providing protection

Surface Forms

glial cell singular
glial cells plural

Morphology

glial + cell

This is a simple adjective + noun composition: 'glial' specifies a type or function (relating to supportive nervous-system cells) and 'cell' names the biological unit, so the meaning 'a cell that supports neurons' is directly derivable from the parts. Although 'glial' is technical vocabulary, if a learner knows both constituent meanings the overall interpretation is transparent; similar formations exist in many languages, reinforcing predictability.

Etymology

Glial cell comes from a word meaning 'glue' because early scientists thought these cells held neurons together like 'glue'. So the name reminds you that glial cells 'support' and protect neurons.