Which statement about glial cells is true?

Which statement about glial cells is true?

• A. Glial cells are the neurons' primary signaling cells.
• B. Glial cells outnumber neurons by about ten times.
• C. Glial cells do not participate in myelination.
• D. Glial cells lack roles in maintaining homeostasis.

Answer: (B)

Glial cells are the abundant support players that shape how neurons function by keeping the brain’s environment stable and well-supplied. The statement that glial cells outnumber neurons by about ten times reflects the common view in neuroscience: glia are far more numerous than neurons, providing essential metabolic support, ion balance, neurotransmitter clearance, and insulation. This abundance underpins their broad roles in maintaining neural homeostasis and enabling proper signaling, even though neurons carry the electrical messages themselves. Other options misstate the role of glia. They are not the primary signaling cells—neurons handle the main electrical communication. Glial cells do participate in myelination; oligodendrocytes in the CNS and Schwann cells in the PNS wrap axons with myelin to speed signal transmission. They also play key roles in maintaining homeostasis, such as buffering extracellular ions, taking up neurotransmitters, supplying energy substrates, and supporting the blood-brain barrier.

Glial cells are the abundant support players that shape how neurons function by keeping the brain’s environment stable and well-supplied. The statement that glial cells outnumber neurons by about ten times reflects the common view in neuroscience: glia are far more numerous than neurons, providing essential metabolic support, ion balance, neurotransmitter clearance, and insulation. This abundance underpins their broad roles in maintaining neural homeostasis and enabling proper signaling, even though neurons carry the electrical messages themselves.

Other options misstate the role of glia. They are not the primary signaling cells—neurons handle the main electrical communication. Glial cells do participate in myelination; oligodendrocytes in the CNS and Schwann cells in the PNS wrap axons with myelin to speed signal transmission. They also play key roles in maintaining homeostasis, such as buffering extracellular ions, taking up neurotransmitters, supplying energy substrates, and supporting the blood-brain barrier.