Difference between gray matter and white matter
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Grey matter is distinguished from white matter in that it contains numerous cell bodies and relatively few myelinated axons, while white matter contains relatively few cell bodies and is composed chiefly of long-range myelinated axons. The colour difference arises mainly from the whiteness of myelin.
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Gray vs. White Matter
Gray matter is peculiar for containing the neuron cell bodies. The scientific name for the neuron bodies is soma (1).
White matter is specific for containing myelinated axons (1). These structures are long relays. They extend out from the neuron bodies. As their color is whiteish, these structures are called the white matter.
The color comes from a high lipid fat content in myelin. This structure connects the brain cells and is distributed in tracts or bundles.
Even though both types of matter are arranged throughout our CNS, i.e. they exist in both brain and spinal cord, we must emphasize one detail. At a system or classification level, the division on the white and gray matter is accurate.
However, there are mixed cell types. Such types exist both in white and gray matter. Therefore, things are not very black-and-white (or gray-and-white), nor simple.
Gray matter is peculiar for containing the neuron cell bodies. The scientific name for the neuron bodies is soma (1).
White matter is specific for containing myelinated axons (1). These structures are long relays. They extend out from the neuron bodies. As their color is whiteish, these structures are called the white matter.
The color comes from a high lipid fat content in myelin. This structure connects the brain cells and is distributed in tracts or bundles.
Even though both types of matter are arranged throughout our CNS, i.e. they exist in both brain and spinal cord, we must emphasize one detail. At a system or classification level, the division on the white and gray matter is accurate.
However, there are mixed cell types. Such types exist both in white and gray matter. Therefore, things are not very black-and-white (or gray-and-white), nor simple.
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