Nervous tissue primarily contains which two cell types?

• A. Muscle fibers and adipocytes
• B. Neurons and glial cells
• C. Epithelial cells and fibroblasts
• D. Hematopoietic cells and platelets

Answer: (B)

Nervous tissue is made up of two main kinds of cells: neurons and glial cells. Neurons are the cells that transmit electrical and chemical signals, forming the communication network of the nervous system. Glial cells provide essential support to neurons: they nourish and protect neurons, help maintain the chemical environment, and insulate neurons with myelin to speed up signal transmission. They also participate in cleanup and immune defense, and in the CNS, different glial types have specific roles (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia; in the PNS, Schwann cells do myelination).

The other options describe cell types associated with muscle tissue, epithelial and connective tissues, or blood-forming tissues, which are not the main components of nervous tissue.