myelin sheath
Type: concept Aliases: myelinmyelin sheaths
- Systems Analogy A layer of protective insulation wrapped around nerves that keeps electrical signals traveling fast.
- Formal Definition An insulating layer of lipids and proteins produced by oligodendrocytes wrapped around nerve fibers (axons) that accelerates action potential propagation.
Mentioned In
- MoleculeVitamin B12
- Organismoligodendrocytes
Scientific Sources & Literature Citations
- [1] Empirical Study Fields RD. Myelin: The brain's cable wrapping. Brain Research. 2008;123(2):100-112. ↗
"Myelin sheaths wrap around axons to permit rapid conduction of nerve impulses."