myelin
Myelin is a dielectric, electrically insulating material of protein and fat that forms a layer, the myelin sheath, usually around only the axon of a neuron. Its composition is well specified: about forty per cent of myelin is water, and its dry mass is roughly seventy to eighty-five per cent lipids and fifteen to thirty per cent proteins. Among its constituent proteins are myelin basic protein, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, and proteolipid protein, while its primary lipid is a glycolipid, galactocerebroside. The intertwining hydrocarbon chains of sphingomyelin serve to strengthen the sheath. That lipid-dominated composition is the basis of its insulating property, since the material surrounds the axon rather than the cell body or dendrites.
A dielectric (electrically insulating) material consisting of protein and fat that forms a layer, the myelin sheath, usually around only the axon of a neuron. Myelin is about 40 % water; the dry mass of myelin is about 70 - 85 % lipids and about 15 - 30 % proteins. Some of the proteins that make up myelin are myelin basic protein (MBP), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), and proteolipid protein (PLP). The primary lipid of myelin is a glycolipid called galactocerebroside (GalC). The intertwining hydrocarbon chains of sphingomyelin serve to strengthen the myelin sheath.
On this page
| Tipo | Organ |
| Sistema corporal | Nervioso |
| Estructura principal | anatomical structure |
| FMA ID | 62977 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the myelin?
A dielectric (electrically insulating) material consisting of protein and fat that forms a layer, the myelin sheath, usually around only the axon of a neuron. Myelin is about 40 % water; the dry mass of myelin is about 70 - 85 % lipids and about 15 - 30 % proteins. Some of the proteins that make up
What body system is the myelin part of?
The myelin is part of the Nervioso.
Aviso médico
Este contenido es solo para fines educativos e informativos. No pretende ser un sustituto del consejo médico profesional, diagnóstico o tratamiento. Siempre busque el consejo de su médico u otro proveedor de salud calificado ante cualquier pregunta que pueda tener sobre una condición médica. Nunca ignore el consejo médico profesional ni demore en buscarlo debido a algo que haya leído en este sitio web.
Educational Disclaimer
This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical decisions.
Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/anatomyfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-anatomyfyi="entity" data-slug="myelin"></div>
Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://anatomyfyi.com/iframe/entity/myelin/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>
Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://anatomyfyi.com/structure/myelin/
Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://anatomyfyi.com/structure/myelin/)
Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/anatomyfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<anatomyfyi-entity slug="myelin"></anatomyfyi-entity>