Human cell

Ependymal Cells (Brain Fluid Movers)

Deep inside your brain are little rooms full of clear fluid. Ependymal cells line the walls and wave tiny hairs to keep the fluid moving.

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Spin the ependymal cells

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Lesson 1

Lining the brain's water rooms

Your brain has a few hollow spaces called ventricles (VEN-trih-kulz). A thin tube runs down the middle of your spinal cord too. They are all filled with a clear liquid.

Ependymal cells (eh-PEN-dih-mul) sit side by side to line these spaces, like tiles on a wall. On top, many of them have tiny hairs called cilia (SILL-ee-uh).

Try this

Scroll up to the 3D model and press Wave the cilia. Then press Move the fluid.

Watch and learn

Glia Are Your Brain's Most Mysterious Cells

By SciShow. Good for older kids.

Watch on YouTube →

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