Biology 1201A Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Ganglioside, Schwann Cell, Multiple Sclerosis
2 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Microglia: derived from mesoderm, instead of the ectoderm like all the other neural cells, resting microglia have small soma and many highly branched processes heading out in every direction. In this state, they"re basically just monitoring the interstitial fluid looking for inflammation (from injury or infection). When they detect trouble, they convert to active microglia: the active microglia are just larger and sort of blob shapes. Microglia arise from monocytes, and are a part of the immune system, which arises from the mesoderm. However, the majority of the nervous system arises from ectoderm (cns) or neural crest cells (pns). Microglia are the macrophages, or phagocytes, of the central nervous system (cns, or the brain). They will proliferate if there is an infection, such as bacterial meningitis. This is where csf is secreted across ependymal cells to create cerebral spinal fluid. Ependymal cells help form the barrier that holds in and produces csf, cerebrospinal fluid.
