oligodendrocyte
noun
ol·i·go·den·dro·cyte
ˈä-li-gō-ˈden-drə-ˌsīt 
ˈō-;
ə-ˌli-gə-
: a glial cell that resembles an astrocyte but is smaller with few and slender processes having few branches and that forms the myelin sheath around axons in the central nervous system see oligodendroglia
Examples of oligodendrocyte in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The early phase also saw a loss of oligodendrocytes, cells that insulate nerve fibers and help facilitate communication in the brain, in the cortex.
—
New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2024
The particular cells imaged here are precursors to oligodendrocytes, cells that produce myelin in the body, the substance that forms protective sheaths around nerve fibers.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2024
Neurons become hyperactive, astrocytes and microglia become stuffed with lipids and less effective, and cells called oligodendrocytes fail to maintain the sheathing around nerve fibers.
—Byjocelyn Kaiser, science.org, 12 Sep. 2024
In collaboration with Helena Parkington, a physiologist at Monash University, the team created brain tissues containing not only neurons, but also the astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia that help neurons stay healthy and form connections.
—WIRED, 3 Oct. 2023
The larger orange shape is an oligodendrocyte.
—Colin Salter, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2015
The ragged extensions of an oligodendrocyte can supply many neurons (nerve cells) with myelin, an insulating material which allows each neuron’s communicating axon to transmit electrical impulses efficiently.
—Colin Salter, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2015
The oligodendrocyte begins to synthesize myelin at that spot and wrap it around the axon.
—R. Douglas Fields, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2020
Intriguingly, immature oligodendrocytes, called oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), populate nearly the entire brain with little regard for the complex anatomical boundaries within brain tissue.
—R. Douglas Fields, Scientific American, 18 Nov. 2019
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New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2024
The particular cells imaged here are precursors to oligodendrocytes, cells that produce myelin in the body, the substance that forms protective sheaths around nerve fibers.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2024
Neurons become hyperactive, astrocytes and microglia become stuffed with lipids and less effective, and cells called oligodendrocytes fail to maintain the sheathing around nerve fibers.
—Byjocelyn Kaiser, science.org, 12 Sep. 2024
In collaboration with Helena Parkington, a physiologist at Monash University, the team created brain tissues containing not only neurons, but also the astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia that help neurons stay healthy and form connections.
—WIRED, 3 Oct. 2023
The larger orange shape is an oligodendrocyte.
—Colin Salter, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2015
The ragged extensions of an oligodendrocyte can supply many neurons (nerve cells) with myelin, an insulating material which allows each neuron’s communicating axon to transmit electrical impulses efficiently.
—Colin Salter, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2015
The oligodendrocyte begins to synthesize myelin at that spot and wrap it around the axon.
—R. Douglas Fields, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2020
Intriguingly, immature oligodendrocytes, called oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), populate nearly the entire brain with little regard for the complex anatomical boundaries within brain tissue.
—R. Douglas Fields, Scientific American, 18 Nov. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near oligodendrocyte
Cite this Entry
“Oligodendrocyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oligodendrocyte. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
oligodendrocyte
noun
oli·go·den·dro·cyte
-ˈden-drə-ˌsīt
: a glial cell that resembles an astrocyte but is smaller with few and slender processes having few branches and that forms the myelin sheath around axons in the central nervous system
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