astrocyte, astroglia

Term: astrocyte or collectively astroglia 

Origin: Anc Greek

αστήρ/aster(=star, flame)

κυτίον/cytion(=box)

cyto- was derived from “kytos=cavity” (Greek letter k is replased by latin c, like in word “cycle” which derived from Ancient Greek word kyklos) as a combining form meaning “cell,” used in the formation of compound words (e.g cytoplasm, cytochrome, cytosol, cytoskeleton, cytogenetics, cytology, cytolysis, cytopenia, cytotoxin, cytomegalovirus, cytostatic ).

-γλοία/-glia(=combining form meaning glue)

Coined:

in 1893, by  Hungarian anatomist, Michael von Lenhossek (1863-1937) in order to describe the star-shaped neuroglial cells in the CNS.

Definition

Astrocytes or astroglia, are characteristic star-shaped (radially arranged) glial cells in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Functions of astrocytes include metabolic support for neurons, detoxification, guidance during migration, regulation of energy metabolism, transport of blood-borne material to the neuron, and reaction to injury.