Biology · Structural Organisation in Animals · NEET
Neural tissue is the fourth type of animal tissue. It has two kinds of cells: neurons (nerve cells that get excited and carry electrical messages) and neuroglia (glial cells that support, protect and feed the neurons). Memory hook: "Neurons are the workers, neuroglia are the helpers" — glia (glue) hold the nervous system together.
Neural tissue has two cell types: the neuron (cell body, dendrites and axon) that carries the electrical nerve impulse, and neuroglia (glial cells) that support, protect, nourish the neurons and make the myelin sheath.
Your doubts, answered
Is neuroglia a connective tissue?
No. This is a very common trap. Neuroglia are the supporting cells of NEURAL tissue, not connective tissue. Connective tissue always has a large matrix (like blood, bone, cartilage, adipose). Neuroglia support and protect neurons, so they belong to neural tissue. NEET 2022 asked exactly this: neuroglia is 'not a connective tissue'.
What is the difference between a neuron and a neuroglia?
A neuron is the excitable cell that receives a stimulus and carries the electrical signal (nerve impulse). Neuroglia (glial cells) are non-excitable helper cells that support, protect, insulate and nourish neurons. Neurons carry messages; neuroglia do not carry messages.
What two cell types make up neural tissue?
Neural tissue is made of (1) neurons (nerve cells) and (2) neuroglia (glial cells). NCERT states neuroglia make up more than half the volume of neural tissue in our body.
Are neuroglia cells excitable like neurons?
No. Only neurons are excitable (they respond to a stimulus and pass on the impulse). Neuroglia are not excitable; their job is support, protection and nourishment. Remember: 'glia = support, not signal.'
How does neural tissue control the body?
When a neuron is excited by a stimulus, it sends an electrical disturbance (nerve impulse) very fast along its length to another neuron, a muscle or a gland. This is how neural tissue controls and coordinates the body's activities.
⚠️ The NEET trap ✗ Neuroglia is a type of connective tissue because it 'connects' and supports. ✓ Neuroglia is part of NEURAL tissue. Connective tissue must have an abundant matrix (blood, bone, cartilage, adipose). Neuroglia supports neurons, so it is neural, not connective. 🧠 'Glia supports neurons' — support does NOT mean connective tissue. In NEET 2022 the answer to 'which is not a connective tissue' was Neuroglia.
Real NEET questions
NEET 2022
Which of the following is not a connective tissue?
A · Blood
B · Adipose tissue
C · Cartilage
D · Neuroglia ✓
Solution: Blood, adipose tissue and cartilage are all connective tissues (they have a matrix). Neuroglia are the supporting cells of NEURAL tissue, not connective tissue, so neuroglia is the odd one out.
NEET 2017
Myelin sheath is produced by
A · Schwann Cells and Oligodendrocytes ✓
B · Astrocytes and Schwann Cells
C · Oligodendrocytes and Osteoclasts
D · Osteoclasts and Astrocytes
Solution: The myelin sheath is made by neuroglial cells. Schwann cells make myelin around axons in the peripheral nervous system, and oligodendrocytes make myelin in the central nervous system. Astrocytes and osteoclasts do not make myelin (osteoclasts are bone cells).
Solved Structural Organisation in Animals NEET PYQs
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
Neural tissue is the tissue that controls and coordinates the body. It is made of neurons (cells that carry electrical messages) and neuroglia (helper cells that support and protect the neurons).
What are the two main cells of neural tissue?
Neurons and neuroglia. Neurons are excitable and carry the nerve impulse; neuroglia support, protect and nourish the neurons.
Why is neuroglia important for NEET?
NEET often tests neuroglia as a trap: students wrongly call it connective tissue (NEET 2022) or forget that Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes are neuroglia that make the myelin sheath (NEET 2017).
Do neuroglia carry nerve impulses?
No. Only neurons carry nerve impulses. Neuroglia are non-excitable support cells; they help the neurons work but do not carry the signal themselves.
How much of neural tissue is neuroglia?
According to NCERT, neuroglia make up more than half the volume of neural tissue in our body, showing how important support cells are.
