Myeliinituneet

Myeliinituneet, often referred to as myelinated nerve fibers, are a crucial component of the nervous system. Myelin is a fatty, insulating substance that wraps around the axons of many neurons. This myelin sheath is not continuous but rather interrupted at regular intervals by gaps called nodes of Ranvier. The presence of myelin significantly speeds up the transmission of electrical signals, or action potentials, along the axon. Without myelin, nerve impulse conduction would be much slower.

The process of myelin formation is called myelination. In the central nervous system (CNS), oligodendrocytes are responsible for myelinating multiple axons, while in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), Schwann cells myelinate a single axon. Myelination is a developmental process that continues throughout childhood and adolescence. Damage to the myelin sheath, as occurs in demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis, can lead to severe neurological impairments due to the disrupted and slowed nerve conduction. The efficiency of myelin in facilitating rapid communication between different parts of the body makes it indispensable for complex functions such as motor control, sensory perception, and cognitive processes.