Definition of myelin
:a soft white material that forms a thick layer around the axons of some neurons and is composed chiefly of lipids (such as cerebroside and cholesterol), water, and smaller amounts of protein
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MS is a disease of the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain) in which the immune system attacks myelin, the protective coating around nerve fibers.
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The more the myelin is damaged, the more the nerves are interrupted, producing a variety of symptoms that vary in severity.
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So far, there’s no therapy to reverse the harm caused by the disease, in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath surrounding neurons.
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With multiple sclerosis — a disease afflicting more than 2.3 million people worldwide — the immune system's defense cells attack the fatty myelin sheaths that cover nerves.
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These cells will leave the lymph nodes and actually defend myelin.
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Think of myelin as a kind of insulation or protective coating for nerve cells.
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The prefrontal cortex trims away neural connections that are not needed and begins the process of myelination, or wrapping nerve cells in myelin.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'myelin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of myelin
International Scientific Vocabulary
Medical Dictionary
medical Definition of myelin
:a soft white material of lipid and protein that is secreted by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells and forms a thick sheath about axons — see myelin sheath
Learn More about myelin
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about myelin
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