Neuroscience Online

Section I: Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology 8. Organization of Cell Types Part 1 of 15 Jack C. Waymire, Ph.D.

Introduction to Neurons and Glial Cells

The human nervous system is estimated to consist of roughly 360 billion non-neural glial cells and 90 billion nerve cells. Furthermore, there are hundreds of different types of neurons based on morphology alone. Often, neurons that look similar have strikingly different properties. For example, they utilize and respond to different neurotransmitter(s). This section reviews the cellular components of nervous tissue. Students should be able to describe neurons and glia, their morphological components as seen with the light and electron microscope, and some of the fundamental functional roles these cell types play in the nervous system.