mielinic

Mielinic is an adjective used to describe things related to myelin, the lipid-rich insulating sheath that surrounds many axons in the vertebrate nervous system. In English, the term is rarely used; "myelin-related" or "myelinic" and "myelinated" are more common, depending on context.

Mielinic describes features associated with myelin, including its composition, formation (myelination), and pathology (demyelination). It is a relatively uncommon term in current English neuroscience, and many writers prefer "myelin-related" or "myelinated" when appropriate. Myelin forms a sheath around many axons, produced by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. It increases the speed and efficiency of electrical signal transmission by enabling saltatory conduction between nodes of Ranvier. Myelination develops postnatally in most mammals, with timing varying by region and species.

The term mielinic can be used when discussing the properties or processes specifically tied to myelin, such as myelin sheath structure, lipid and protein composition (including proteolipid protein, myelin basic protein), and disorders affecting myelin. Pathologies involving mielinic integrity include demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, which lead to slowed conduction and neurological dysfunction.

Imaging techniques such as MRI and diffusion tensor imaging assess myelin content and integrity in vivo, contributing to the study of mielinic development, health, and disease. Related terms include myelin, oligodendrocyte, demyelination, and myelination. Etymology traces the word to myelin, the insulating sheath surrounding axons.