Substantia alba

Substantia Alba or White Matter is a component of the central nervous system (CNS) that transmits signals between different parts of the CNS. It is named for its relatively light appearance due to the lipid content of myelin.

Structure

Substantia Alba is composed of bundles of myelinated axons, which connect various grey matter areas (the locations of nerve cell bodies) of the brain to each other, and carry nerve impulses between neurons. The myelin acts as an insulator which allows electrical signals to jump, rather than coursing through the axon, increasing the speed of transmission of all nerve signals.

Function

The primary function of the substantia alba is to transmit signals in the form of nerve impulses between different parts of the brain, and between the brain and the rest of the body. This allows for communication and coordination between different regions of the brain, and between the brain and the peripheral nervous system.

Clinical significance

Damage to areas of the substantia alba can result in a range of neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, which is characterized by the loss of myelin within the white matter.

See also

• Grey matter
• Myelin
• Central nervous system
• Multiple sclerosis