Our central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain, the spinal cord, and the retina. It is the command center of the body, powering everything that we do and interpreting everything around us.

This system continues developing throughout the entire human lifetime, constantly creating and eliminating neurons to keep the standard nervous system functioning refreshed.

The central nervous system works by taking in the information collected by the peripheral nervous system and redistributing information based on that. It controls everything from a sneeze to the rate of your heartbeat.

The CNS contains about 86 billion nerve cells in total, this is more than 12x the amount of people on planet Earth right now! All of them are connected by trillions of nerve fibers – axons and dendrites – that facilitate the transmission of information throughout the entire nervous system.

Glia, also called glial cells or neuroglia, are non-neuronal cells in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system that do not produce the electrical impulses.  They maintain homeostasis, form myelin , and provide support and protection for neurons.  In the central nervous system, glial cells include oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, ependymal cells, and microglia, and in the peripheral nervous system glial cells include Schwann cells and satellite cells. 

Glial cells have four main functions: (1) to surround neurons and hold them in place (the reason they are also called glue cells)        (2) to supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons   (3) to insulate one neuron from another   (4) to destroy pathogens and remove dead neurons. They also play a role in neurotransmission and synaptic connections, and in physiological processes like breathing.

Glial cells or neuroglial cells; also known as the helper cells but non-neuronal cells since it does not do what a neuronal cell does .  Glial cells function is to support the neuron (glue cells remember).   

The term glia is Greek meaning “glue”.   So where these cells might not have the function of electrical stimulation from the brain to the area to create motor movement or functions we might not realize we are doing like breathing without glial cells their neurons would fall apart the glial cells keep them together.

A neuron is a nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system. Neurons are similar to other cells in the human body in a number of ways, but there is one key difference between neurons and other cells. Neurons are specialized to transmit information throughout the body. 

Neurons (also known as neurones, nerve cells and nerve fibers) are specialized cells because they are electrically excitable cells in the nervous system that function to process and transmit information.  Glial cells are specialized cells that help in allowing neuronal cells do the transmission of nerve impulses, which are the nerve cells.  You find these cells in the nervous system.  Muscle movement is initiated by nerve cells (neurons) that are located in the spinal-cord and in the front part of the brain (called the motor cortex). Nerve cells in the motor cortex connect with the nerve cells in the spinal-cord that stimulate muscles to move (called motor nerves). Nerve cells (neurons) Function: releasing of neurosecretions, co-operation between the nervous system and endocrine system in the regulation of the function of internal organs. Location: supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. 

Glio representing the glial cells and blaststoma the representing the tumor/neoplasm consisting of immature undifferentiated cells (commonly in cancerous tissue). The glial cells are in the brain,; this explains the metastasis of this tumor.  Glioblastoma(s) is only in brain tissue and then the spinal cord since the spinal cord is an extension of brain tissue (a fetus first starts growth with a brain that extends into your spinal cord during the trimesters of a pregnancy).  Even though this tumor, glioblastoma,  spreads to only 2 areas the glioblastoma replicates fast which explains why the survival rate on average in 1 to 5 years, over 5 years is rare but possible.   This all depends on how soon it’s diagnosed, what stage is it in 1?2?3? or 4? and if the individual does not ignore symptoms of a glioblastoma or if its not misdiagnosed.  The only way you would even have an idea of a brain tumor in your head is symptoms present and than going to a doctor who immediately prescribes for you a MRI of the brain or lastly, just being checked by your doctor ever year (the key to prevention).  If you have had in your family, especially nuclear family (mom;/dad/siblings) you should get checked yearly or as soon as the oncologist tells you after your first visit with a specialized doctor in cancer being the MD evaluating you.

Glioblastomas often grow in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. They can also be found in the brain stem, cerebellum, other parts of the brain, and the spinal cord.

The signs and symptoms will be based on which lobe of the brain the tumor.  The symptoms of a glioblastoma can be none at first but as the tumor grows getting bigger since it will be applying increased pressure to the brain lobe it is.  The lobe it is in based on the functions of that brain lobe can be affected (example in Temporal Lobe one of the functions is memory and memory could be effected.  These can be the symptoms based on Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (excellent cancer hospital ranking #2 in the nation by www.trendrr.net.):

Signs and symptoms of a glioma tend to develop when the tumor pushes on, or even damages, healthy brain tissue. The area around the tumor then swells. Sometimes the tumor gets in the way of the normal flow of fluid around the brain and spinal cord.

“The symptoms often relate to where in the brain the tumor develops.”  This makes sense if your tumor is increasing in the lobe its in it will create more of a headache in the area that the brain lobe is located and possible affect the functions that brain lobe is responsible for depending on the size of the tumor.  “These symptoms may be caused by something other than a glioma, but it’s important to have them checked out by a doctor.”