Oligodendrocytes

  • Published31 Aug 2020
  • Author Calli McMurray
  • Source BrainFacts/SfN

Oligodendrocytes insulate the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, speeding up neural signaling. Schwann cells have the same job outside of the brain and spinal cord.

Brain Bytes showcase essential facts about neuroscience.

Oligodendrocytes Brain Byte
Design by A.Tong

Design by Adrienne Tong.

Image "Oligodendrocytes engaging with neurites" by Prof. Peter Brophy. CC BY 4.0.

CONTENTPROVIDEDBY

BrainFacts/SfN

Martini, R., Groh, J., & Bartsch, U. (2010). Comparative biology of Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes. In E. Mathey & P. Armati (Eds.), The Biology of Oligodendrocytes (pp. 19–48). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Cambridge Core. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511782121.003

What Is MS? (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS

BrainFacts Book

Download a copy of the newest edition of the book, Brain Facts: A Primer on the Brain and Nervous System.

Download

Image of the Week

Check out the Image of the Week Archive.

Explore

Ask An Expert

Ask a neuroscientist your questions about the brain.

Submit a Question