‫‪MYLEIN SHEATH‬‬

‫محمد عبدهللا علي األسود‬

 Myelin sheath

Axons are a key component of a neuron, they conduct electrical

signals in the form of an action potential from the cell body of the
neuron to its axon terminal where it synapses with another neuron.
An axon is insulated by a myelin sheath throughout its length to
increase the velocity of these electrical signals allowing signals to
propagate quickly.

Axons which are covered by a myelin sheath, a multilayer of

proteins and lipids, are said to be myelinated. If an axon is not
surrounded by a myelin sheath, it is unmyelinated. Myelination is
the formation of a myelin sheath.

Myelination

Myelination is the formation of a myelin sheath. Myelin sheaths are

made of myelin, and myelin is produced by different types of
neuroglia: oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells, where
oligodendrocytes myelinate axons in the central nervous system,
and Schwann cells myelinate axons in the peripheral nervous
system.

Myelin

Myelin is made up of lipids and proteins, a fatty substance with a

whitish appearance. It is made up of many concentric layers of
plasma membrane to make up the myelin sheath around axons.
Myelin sheath and myelin function are therefore the same, to
increase the speed of nerve impulses.
 Myelin sheath

The myelin sheath:

is a protective covering that surrounds fibres called axons, the
long thin projections that extend from the main body of a nerve
cell or neuron. This sheath is composed of protein and lipids.

Axons vary in length from 1 millimetre to up to 1 metre or

more and carry nerve signals away from the main neuronal
body to other nerve cells, muscles and glands. When axons
are bundled together, they form nerves which create a
network for the passage of electrical nerve impulses across
the body.

The main function of myelin : is to protect and insulate these

axons and enhance their transmission of electrical impulses. If
myelin is damaged, the transmission of these impulses is
slowed down, which is seen in severe neurological conditions
such as multiple sclerosis.

Since the myelin sheath surrounds the axon, one of its functions is to
separate the axon from surrounding extracellular components. Its
main function, however, is to insulate the axon and increase the
velocity of action potential propagatio
 Myelin sheath

How does myelin enhance the transmission of

electrical impulses?
Myelin surrounds and insulates the axon and builds
specialized molecular structures at small, uncovered gaps in
the sheath, which are referred to as the nodes of Ranvier. In
the case of unmyelinated axons, the nerve impulse (action
potential) moves along the axon continuously. By contrast, in
a myelinated nerve fiber, currents can only occur where the
axonal membrane is uncovered, at the nodes of Ranvier.

The lipid-rich myelin sheath therefore acts as an insulator,

offering high transverse resistance and only allowing a
current to flow along the segments that lie between these
nodes of Ranvier.

Taking the most thoroughly myelinated axon as an example,

which is 12 to 20μm in diameter, the speed at which an
impulse is conducted along the axon is 70 to 120 metres per
second (m/s), which is the speed of a race car.
 Myelin sheath

Damaged myelin:
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition where the body’s
own immune cells attack this myelin sheath. T cells strip the myelin
from the nerve fibers it protects, meaning the fibers are left exposed
and uninsulated. These unprotected nerves are then less able to
conduct electrical impulses from the brain to other parts of the body
and the nerve signals sent to the brain are delayed and distorted.
The damaged areas of the nerve where the myelin has been
destroyed forms hard scar tissue (sclerosis) that further disrupts
the conduction capacity of the nerve. These scarred areas are also
referred to as plaques and they can be identified using magnetic
resonance imaging, a technique that aids doctors in the diagnosis of
multiple sclerosis.

As more myelin is destroyed, the less efficient the nerves are at

transmitting nerve impulses. The severity of multiple sclerosis
symptoms depends on whether the myelin has been partially or
completely stripped from the nerve fibers. Determining the extent of
damage to the myelin sheath may be key to predicting how severe
symptoms will become
 Myelin sheath
Clinical aspects
Demyelination

Myelin sheaths around an axon can be destroyed or lost in

demyelination. This may lead to a deterioration of the nerve
because of the loss of myelin protecting the axon. It can be caused by
various disorders like Tay-Sachs or multiple sclerosis and also by
damaging medical treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Schwannoma

A Schwannoma (neurilemmoma) is a benign peripheral nerve

tumor that originates from Schwann cells. These tumors are most
commonly found in the head and neck region. When a tumor arises
from the vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII), it is known as an
acoustic neuroma. It usually occurs in the middle years of life and
interferes with the function of the cochlear root of the
vestibulocochlear nerve– impairing hearing, causing unilateral
hearing loss, and sometimes symptoms of tinnitus. If the tumor
expands into the internal acoustic meatus, function of the facial
nerve (CN VII) can also be affected, as the facial nerve runs adjacent
to the vestibulocochlear nerve in the internal acoustic meatus. This
can result in facial paralysis, swallowing difficulty, and a loss of
sensation in the face. Schwannomas are typically treated by surgical
removal with an excellent prognosis in most cases.