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Structure
Although nervous tissue is highly complex, it is made up of just two principal cell types: neurons and supporting cells, which are also known as neuroglia or glial cells. There are six types of neuroglia, each with a specific structure and function. Even though Schwann cells are derived from neural crest cells, they are still considered to be neuroglial cells. They are flattened cells with only a few mitochondria and a small Golgi complex. Schwann cells are part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that lies outside of the central nervous system (CNS).
Function
Although nervous tissue is highly complex, it is made up of just two principal cell types: neurons and supporting cells, which are also known as neuroglia or glial cells. There are six types of neuroglia, each with a specific structure and function. Even though Schwann cells are derived from neural crest cells, they are still considered to be neuroglial cells. Schwann cells perform the same role in the PNS as the oligodendrocytes do in the CNS. They also synthesise the insulating and protective lipoprotein myelin, but they are capable of producing far less than the oligodendrocytes. This is reflected by the fact that oligodendrocytes are able to myelinate several internodes of several neuronal axons in the CNS, whereas schwann cells can only myelinate one internode of one axon in the PNS. Schwann cells are essential to the process of peripheral nerve fiber regeneration.
