Mielinizáció

Mielinizáció is the process by which nerve fibers, also known as axons, in the nervous system become coated with a fatty substance called myelin. This myelin sheath acts as an insulator, dramatically increasing the speed at which electrical impulses, or action potentials, can travel along the axon. Without myelin, nerve impulses would be significantly slower, impairing communication between different parts of the body and the brain.

The formation of myelin is carried out by specialized glial cells. In the central nervous system (CNS), these cells are oligodendrocytes, while in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), they are Schwann cells. Each glial cell can myelinate multiple axons in the CNS, whereas in the PNS, a single Schwann cell typically myelinates only a small segment of one axon.

Mielinizáció is a crucial developmental process that begins during fetal development and continues into early adulthood. It is essential for the proper functioning of motor skills, sensory perception, and cognitive abilities. Damage to the myelin sheath, a condition known as demyelination, can lead to severe neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), where the immune system attacks and destroys myelin. This disruption of nerve signal transmission results in a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, numbness, difficulty with coordination, and vision problems. The process of remyelination, where new myelin is formed, can occur but is often incomplete and less efficient than the initial mielinizáció.