File:Spinal cord histology 10.jpg

Spinal Cord Ependymal Cells

The ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord are lined with ependymal cells.

• The cells are often cilated and form a simple cuboidal or low columnar epithelium.
• The lack of tight junctions between ependymal cells allows a free exchange between cerebrospinal fluid and nervous tissue.
• Ependymal cells can specialise into tanycytes, which are rarely ciliated and have long basal processes.

Tanycytes form the ventricular lining over the few CNS regions in which the blood-brain barrier is incomplete.

• Floor of the third ventricle with processes extending deep into the hypothalamus.
• They do form tight junctions and control the exchange of substances between these regions and surrounding nervous tissue or cerebrospinal fluid.

(text modified from Blue Histology)

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Links: Histology | Histology Stains | Blue Histology images copyright Lutz Slomianka 1998-2009. The literary and artistic works on the original Blue Histology website may be reproduced, adapted, published and distributed for non-commercial purposes. See also the page Histology Stains.

Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 27) Embryology Spinal cord histology 10.jpg. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/File:Spinal_cord_histology_10.jpg

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© Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G