What is the importance of myelin sheath?
Myelin is an insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of protein and fatty substances. This myelin sheath allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells.
Why is the myelin sheath an important part of the neuron group of answer choices?
The myelin sheath wraps around the fibers that are the long threadlike part of a nerve cell. The sheath protects these fibers, known as axons, a lot like the insulation around an electrical wire. When the myelin sheath is healthy, nerve signals are sent and received quickly.
Does the myelin sheath play an important role in synaptic transmission?
The main function of myelin is to protect and insulate these axons and enhance the 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 (MS).
How does myelin affect the action potential?
By acting as an electrical insulator, myelin greatly speeds up action potential conduction (Figure 3.14). As it happens, an action potential generated at one node of Ranvier elicits current that flows passively within the myelinated segment until the next node is reached.
How is the myelin sheath related to multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis In this disorder, your immune system attacks the myelin sheath or the cells that produce and maintain it. This causes inflammation and injury to the sheath and ultimately to the nerve fibers that it surrounds. The process can result in multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis).
How does myelin sheath affect neural impulse?
Most nerve fibres are surrounded by an insulating, fatty sheath called myelin, which acts to speed up impulses. The myelin sheath contains periodic breaks called nodes of Ranvier. By jumping from node to node, the impulse can travel much more quickly than if it had to travel along the entire length of the nerve fibre.