Myelin

Definition

Myelin is a fatty substance that surrounds the axon of some nerve cells, forming an insulating layer that speeds up the transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system. It is essential for the rapid propagation of nerve impulses, allowing efficient communication between neurons.

Related terms

Axon:

The long, threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells.

Neuron:

A specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.

Nerve Impulse: A signal transmitted along a nerve fiber, consisting of a wave of electrical depolarization that reverses the electric potential difference across the nerve cell membranes