What is the primary function of microglia?

What is the primary function of microglia?

• A. Exchange Nutrients
• B. Dispose of Debris
• C. Myelinate Axons
• D. Produce Cerebrospinal Fluid

Answer: (B)

Microglia serve as the brain’s resident immune sentinels, with the primary function of disposing of debris through phagocytosis—clearing dead cells, debris, and invading pathogens to keep the CNS clean and protected. They act as scavengers, especially after injury or disease, helping restore homeostasis. They are not mainly involved in exchanging nutrients (that role lies with astrocytes and the brain’s vasculature), they do not myelinate axons (that’s the job of oligodendrocytes), and they do not produce cerebrospinal fluid (which is made by the choroid plexus/ependymal cells).

Microglia serve as the brain’s resident immune sentinels, with the primary function of disposing of debris through phagocytosis—clearing dead cells, debris, and invading pathogens to keep the CNS clean and protected. They act as scavengers, especially after injury or disease, helping restore homeostasis. They are not mainly involved in exchanging nutrients (that role lies with astrocytes and the brain’s vasculature), they do not myelinate axons (that’s the job of oligodendrocytes), and they do not produce cerebrospinal fluid (which is made by the choroid plexus/ependymal cells).