Node of Ranvier
Node of Ranvier
Node of Ranvier (pronunciation: /ˈrɑːnvi.eɪ/), also known as myelin sheath gap, is a short region of a nerve fiber where the myelin sheath is absent. It is named after the French anatomist Louis-Antoine Ranvier, who first described the node in 1878.
Etymology
The term "Node of Ranvier" is derived from the name of its discoverer, Louis-Antoine Ranvier, a French anatomist and pathologist. The term "node" comes from the Latin nodus, meaning "knot", and refers to the knot-like appearance of these structures under a microscope.
Function
The Node of Ranvier plays a crucial role in the conduction of nerve impulses along a nerve fiber. It allows the electrical signals to jump rapidly from one node to the next, a process known as saltatory conduction, which significantly speeds up the transmission of nerve impulses.
Related Terms
- Myelin: A fatty substance that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers.
- Axon: The long, threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells.
- Schwann cell: A type of glial cell that produces the myelin sheath around peripheral nerve fibers.
- Oligodendrocyte: A type of glial cell similar to a Schwann cell but found in the central nervous system.
- Saltatory conduction: The rapid conduction of nerve impulses along a myelinated axon.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Node of Ranvier
- Wikipedia's article - Node of Ranvier
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