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MRI scans showing hyperintensities. A hyperintensity or T2 hyperintensity is an area of high intensity on types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain of a human or of another mammal that reflect lesions produced largely by demyelination and axonal loss.
White matter is composed of bundles, which connect various grey matter areas (the locations of nerve cell bodies) of the brain to each other, and carry nerve impulses between neurons. Myelin acts as an insulator, which allows electrical signals to jump , rather than coursing through the axon, increasing the speed of transmission of all nerve ...
The process of generating myelin is called myelination or myelinogenesis. In the CNS, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes, which form myelin. In humans, myelination begins early in the 3rd trimester, [ 11 ] although only little myelin is present in either the CNS or the PNS at the time of birth.
Sagittal view of cingulate region of human brain with a Talairach grid superimposed in accordance with standard locators. Talairach coordinates, also known as Talairach space, is a 3-dimensional coordinate system (known as an 'atlas') of the human brain, which is used to map the location of brain structures independent from individual differences in the size and overall shape of the brain.
Date/Time Thumbnail Dimensions User Comment; current: 03:57, 22 July 2010: 410 × 485 (99 KB): Andrew c: changes per graphic lab discussion en.wiki : 17:25, 14 July 2010
Myelination gives metabolic support to, and insulates the axons of most vertebrates. [1] A single oligodendrocyte can extend its processes to cover up to 40 axons, that can include multiple adjacent axons. [2] The myelin sheath is not continuous but is segmented along the axon's length at gaps known as the nodes of Ranvier.
There are four subdivisions of group A nerve fibers: alpha (α) Aα; beta (β) Aβ; , gamma (γ) Aγ, and delta (δ) Aδ. These subdivisions have different amounts of myelination and axon thickness and therefore transmit signals at different speeds. Larger diameter axons and more myelin insulation lead to faster signal propagation.
Following terminal differentiation in vivo, mature oligodendrocytes wrap around and myelinate axons. In vitro , oligodendrocytes create an extensive network of myelin-like sheets. The process of differentiation can be observed both through morphological changes and cell surface markers specific to the discrete stage of differentiation, though ...