Our brain, body and nerves / by Andrew Wilson.

  • Wilson, Andrew
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Our brain, body and nerves / by Andrew Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    They are imbedded in a kind of tissue also formed of cells, provided with many radiating branches. These latter constitute what in science are named neuroglia cells.” Their duties were formerly presumed to be those of nourishing the brain cells, but the newer view sees in them the means for separating the brain cells from one another. Thus in a state of activity, when messages have to pass from group to group and from cell to cell, we may suppose that the branches of the neuroglia cells are retracted, and free contact is thus allowed to be made betwixt the dendrons of the brain cells. On the contrary, when there is need for repose, and when the contact be- tween the brain cells has to be broken, the neuroglia cells are believed to expand their branches, which, mechanically, as it were, force aside the dendrons and isolate the cells from which they spring. These views of the movements of our brain cells lead us to some theoretical knowledge of the intimate work of the brain, which know- ledge, even assuming that it is mostly hypo- thetical as yet, nevertheless supplies a gap in our investigations and reflections concern- ing certain phases of our mental life. What, 6i
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