Myelinated

Myelinated refers to the process by which neurons are covered with a protective sheath called myelin. This sheath is made up of lipid and protein and is produced by glial cells. The main function of myelination is to increase the speed at which electrical impulses are conducted along the nerve fiber.

Function

Myelination serves to prevent electrical signals from dispersing out of the nerve fiber. This allows for faster and more efficient transmission of electrical impulses along the nerve fiber. Myelination also provides a form of protection for the nerve fiber.

Process

The process of myelination begins in the fetus during the third trimester of pregnancy and continues into adulthood. Myelination is carried out by two types of glial cells: Oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. These cells wrap around the nerve fiber, forming a myelin sheath.

Disorders

Disorders of myelination can lead to a variety of neurological conditions. These include Multiple sclerosis, a condition in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a genetic disorder that affects the myelin sheath of the peripheral nerves.

See also

• Neuron
• Nervous system
• Neurology

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