Schwann Song

Schwann cells support and nurture our nervous systems. Some wrap around our neurons, providing the insulation that helps to conduct impulses. Such myelinating Schwann cells often hide a smaller pool on non-myelinating terminal Schwann cells (tSCs) found where the tips of neurons meet muscles, known as neuromuscular junctions. Here, researchers develop a tool for distinguishing tSCs (highlighted in bright colours) on the tips of neuron branches (blue) in neuromuscular junctions in the head (left column), abdomen (middle) and limbs (right) of mice. Surprisingly, researchers find disrupting tSCs does not affect the structure of the neuromuscular junctions. Instead, they believe tSCs play subtle roles in how impulses are passed from the nervous system into muscles in mice and humans alike.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image from work by Hyun Kim, Seon-Yong Kim, Kyusang Yoo and colleagues
• Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
• Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
• Published in eLife (reviewed preprint), August 2026