1. A star-shaped glial cell in the brain and spinal cord that provides structural and metabolic support to neurons.
Usage: technical; biology/neuroscience

Examples

• Astrocytes make up about half of the cells in the brain and play a crucial role in maintaining neural health.
• The astrocyte extends long projections that wrap around synapses and help regulate neurotransmitter levels.
• Damage to astrocytes has been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases.
• Researchers discovered that astrocytes actively communicate with neurons through chemical signals.
• Under a microscope, astrocytes appear star-shaped, which is how they got their name.