glia

noun

ˈglē-ə  ˈglī-ə 

plural glia

: supporting tissue intermingled with the essential elements of nervous tissue especially in the brain, spinal cord, and ganglia

Examples of glia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With this ability blocked, the glia cells can't go to work regenerating the retinal cells. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 11 June 2025

The team is particularly interested in what part some non-neuronal cells called glia play in the central nervous system, in addition to immune cells. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Aug. 2024

There are cells called glia that support the nerve functions. —Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 23 May 2024

Those gut feelings are driven by enteric nerve cells, including glia. —Yasemin Saplakoglu, WIRED, 14 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Middle Greek, glue — more at clay

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

glia

noun

ˈglē-ə  ˈglī-ə 

plural glia

: supporting tissue that is intermingled with the essential elements of nervous tissue especially in the brain, spinal cord, and ganglia, is either of ectodermal or mesodermal origin, and is composed of a network of fine fibrils and of flattened stellate cells with numerous radiating fibrillar processes see macroglia, microglia