CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
BRAIN
WHITE MATTER
Most of the white matter consists of axons arranged in bundles. Because of the large number of closely packed axons, histological sections of white matter have a characteristic fibrillar appearance.
Compared with gray matter, sections of white matter contain fewer cell nuclei. Most of the nuclei belong to neuroglial cells and are highlighted in blue. Oligodendrocytes are particularly numerous because their processes form the myelin sheaths that surround axons in the white matter.
Nuclei of capillary endothelial cells can also be observed. The lumen of a blood capillary is highlighted in red.
White matter of the brain. Staining: HE. Medium manification.
