Which glial cell type is responsible for myelinating axons in the CNS?

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Multiple Choice

Which glial cell type is responsible for myelinating axons in the CNS?

In the CNS, the glial cells that form the myelin sheath around axons are oligodendrocytes. An oligodendrocyte extends processes that wrap around multiple nearby axons, creating myelin segments along each one. This insulation increases conduction velocity through saltatory conduction, as electrical impulses leap from one node of Ranvier to the next. Schwann cells perform this myelination role in the peripheral nervous system, where each Schwann cell myelinates a single segment of one axon. Microglia are immune cells that survey and clear debris, and astrocytes provide structural support and regulate the extracellular environment without forming myelin.

In the CNS, the glial cells that form the myelin sheath around axons are oligodendrocytes. An oligodendrocyte extends processes that wrap around multiple nearby axons, creating myelin segments along each one. This insulation increases conduction velocity through saltatory conduction, as electrical impulses leap from one node of Ranvier to the next. Schwann cells perform this myelination role in the peripheral nervous system, where each Schwann cell myelinates a single segment of one axon. Microglia are immune cells that survey and clear debris, and astrocytes provide structural support and regulate the extracellular environment without forming myelin.

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