Myelin Sheath

• Fatty plasma membrane of cells that cover some long neurons axons & give them a white, glistening appearance; produced by Schwann cells or oligodendrocytes.
• It allows for the more rapid transmission of action potentials through axons.

Nervous

Tissue

• Tissue containing excitable cells specialized for rapid transmission of coded information to other cells. 

• Consists of neurons & neuroglial cells

• Nonconducting nerve cells that are intimately associated with neurons and function in a supportive capacity.

Neuron

• Conducting nerve cells that typically consist of dendrites, a cell body, and an axon.

ependymal

cell

astrocyte

• Neuroglial cells found in the brain that help to connect capillaries to neurons in order to facilitate the exchange of nutrients and wastes.

microglial cell

Neuroglial cells that support

neurons and engulf bacteria

and cellular debris.

oligodendrocytes

• Neuroglial cells that produce myelin around the axons of neurons in the brain and spinal cord.

nodes of

Ranvier

• Gaps in the myelin sheath between the Schwann cells of myelinated axons.

axon

• A single, thin extension of a neuron which conducts an action potential away from the cell body (soma)

dendrites