node of Ranvier

noun phrase

node of Ran·​vier -ˈräⁿ-vē-ˌā How to pronounce node of Ranvier (audio)
: a small gap in the myelin sheath of a myelinated nerve fiber

Word History

Etymology

Louis A. Ranvier †1922 French histologist

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of node of Ranvier was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near node of Ranvier

noded

node of Ranvier

nodiak

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Node of Ranvier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/node%20of%20Ranvier. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

node of Ranvier

noun
node of Ran·​vier -ˈrän-vē-ˌā How to pronounce node of Ranvier (audio)
: a small gap in the myelin sheath of a myelinated axon

More from Merriam-Webster on node of Ranvier

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about node of Ranvier

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Word Games

a group of lemurs
Name That Animal: Volume 2 Can you tell a meerkat from a wombat?
hedgehog reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Not a quiz for the pusillanimous
True or False
True or False? Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something a...
winning words from the national spelling bee logo
Spelling Bee Quiz Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...