myelinöivät

Myelinöivät is a Finnish term that translates to "myelinating" or "myelination" in English. It refers to the process by which a myelin sheath is formed around a nerve fiber, also known as an axon. This sheath is a fatty, insulating layer that is crucial for the efficient transmission of nerve impulses. Myelination is primarily 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.

The myelin sheath is not continuous along the axon. Instead, it is segmented, with small gaps called nodes of Ranvier between each segment. This arrangement allows for a faster and more efficient form of nerve impulse conduction known as saltatory conduction. During saltatory conduction, the electrical signal jumps from one node of Ranvier to the next, rather than propagating continuously along the axon. This significantly increases the speed of neural communication.

Myelination begins during fetal development and continues throughout childhood and adolescence. It is a critical process for the maturation of the nervous system and is essential for a wide range of cognitive and motor functions. Conditions that involve the loss or damage of myelin, such as multiple sclerosis, can severely impair neurological function due to the disruption of nerve impulse transmission. The term "myelinöivät" thus encompasses both the biological process and its significance for nervous system health and function.