A decade of diverse microglial-neuronal physical interactions in the brain (2008–2018)

•Microglia-neuronal physical interactions appear to be beneficial and could be conserved across vertebrate species.•Transient microglia-neuronal physical interactions are intimate, robust and homeostatic.•Several transient microglia-neuronal physical interactions are dependent on NMDAR activation – microglial P2Y12R coupling.•Terminal microglial-neuronal physical interactions include phagocytosis, phagoptosis and trogocytosis.