Some nerve cells live in little bunches outside your brain. Each one is wrapped in a cozy blanket of satellite glial cells.
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Along your spinal cord and in other spots in your body are small bunches of nerve cells called ganglia (GANG-lee-uh).
Each nerve cell body in these bunches is surrounded by a thin layer of small, flat satellite glial cells. They circle it like moons around a planet. That is how they got the name satellite!
Scroll up to the 3D model and press Cut it open to see the nerve cell hiding inside its blanket.
Satellite glial cells keep the space around their nerve cell just right. They help bring in what it needs and clean up what it does not need.
Many of these nerve cells carry feelings like touch and warmth from your skin. Healthy helpers mean you can feel the world around you.
Scientists are studying satellite glial cells to learn how they might affect pain. Small helper cells can matter a lot!