Cellular Components of Nervous Tissue

This chapter provides general information on the various types of cells that compose nervous tissues and serves as an introduction to cellular neuroscience. Different classes of neurons are presented in terms of their function, morphology, neurochemistry, and place in neural circuits. Cortical pyramidal neurons and inhibitory interneurons subtypes are discussed together with examples of specialized neurons from subcortical regions. The structure of excitatory and inhibitory synapses is also reviewed. Each type of glial cell (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, as well as microglia) is introduced in separate sections that review their particular function, structure, and interactions with neurons. A final section presents brain endothelial cells and their role in maintenance of the blood-brain barrier.