oligodendrotyytti

Oligodendrotyytti is a cell type found in the central nervous system of vertebrates. These cells are a type of glial cell, which are non-neuronal cells that provide support and protection to neurons. Oligodendrotyytti specifically function to produce myelin, a fatty insulating sheath that surrounds axons, the long projections of nerve cells. This myelination is crucial for efficient and rapid transmission of electrical signals along neurons.

The process of myelination by oligodendrotyytti begins during development and continues into adulthood. A single oligodendrotyytti can extend multiple processes, each of which can myelinate a segment of an axon. This is a key difference from Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, where each Schwann cell myelinates only a single segment of a single axon. The myelin sheath formed by oligodendrotyytti is not continuous; there are gaps called nodes of Ranvier, which are important for saltatory conduction, a faster mode of nerve impulse transmission.

Oligodendrotyytti are therefore essential for the proper functioning of the central nervous system. Damage to these cells or their myelin sheaths can lead to a variety of neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, where the immune system attacks myelin. The study of oligodendrotyytti and their role in myelination is an active area of neuroscience research, aiming to understand and potentially treat conditions affecting the nervous system.