noun
- A star-shaped glial cell in the brain and spinal cord that provides structural and metabolic support to neurons.
Usage: biology; neuroscience; technical
Examples
- Astrocytes make up about half of the cells in the brain and play a crucial role in maintaining neural health.
- The astrocyte's star-shaped structure allows it to contact multiple neurons simultaneously.
- Researchers discovered that astrocytes help regulate the flow of nutrients to active neurons.
- Damage to astrocytes can impair the brain's ability to remove excess neurotransmitters from synapses.
- In Alzheimer's disease, astrocytes become activated and may contribute to neuroinflammation.