central nervous system
Glial Cells of the CNS One cell providing support to neurons of the CNS is the astrocyte, so named because it appears to be star-shaped under the microscope astro- = star . Astrocytes have many processes extending from their main cell body not axons or dendrites like neurons, just cell extensions . Those processes extend to interact with neurons, blood vessels, or the connective tissue covering the CNS that is called the pia mater Figure 12.11 . Generally, they are supporting cells for the neurons in the central nervous system. Some ways in which they support neurons in the central nervous system are by maintaining the concentration of chemicals in the extracellular space, removing excess signaling molecules, reacting to tissue damage, and contributing to the blood-brain barrier BBB . The blood-brain barrier is a physiological barrier that keeps many.