oligodendrocytes

Oligodendrocytes are specialized cells in the central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord) that support nerve cells. Their main role is to produce a fatty substance called myelin, which wraps around nerve fibers (axons). This myelin acts like insulation, helping electrical signals travel quickly and efficiently between nerve cells. Without oligodendrocytes, communication in the brain and spinal cord would be much slower or disrupted, affecting movement, thought, and sensation. They are essential for proper nervous system function and coordination.