Which cells in the nervous system support, nourish, and protect neurons?

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Glial cells are the support system of the nervous system. They nourish neurons with energy substrates, manage the chemical environment around neurons (like ions and neurotransmitters), provide physical scaffolding, and participate in immune defense to protect neural tissue. Neurons themselves are the signaling units, responsible for transmitting electrical impulses and releasing neurotransmitters, but they depend on glia to stay healthy and to function properly. Different glial types work together: astrocytes supply glucose and help regulate extracellular ion balance; microglia act as immune cells; oligodendrocytes (in the CNS) and Schwann cells (in the PNS) create myelin to insulate axons and speed transmission. Myelin is a product of these glial cells, not a separate cell, and neurotransmitters are the chemical messages released by neurons. So the cells that actively support, nourish, and protect neurons are glial cells.