Spinal cord, bird (LM, Medium)

Structure List White matter Gray matter Axons Myelin sheaths Oligodenrocytes Low Magnification View

In the central nervous system, myelinated and some unmyelinated axons travel in bundles called white matter. The white matter is composed of the axons, the myelin sheaths and cell bodies of oligodendrocytes and the two other supportive cells: fibrous astrocytes and microglia. On this slide, identify all of these structures. Also note that around each oligodendrocyte is a significant number of axons with clear spaces where myelin used to be. Unlike the peripheral nervous system where a Schwann cell myelinates only one axon, oligodendrocytes provide myelin sheaths for many axons