Question

Why is myelin important? Check all that apply.

Check All That Apply
-It forms extensions called perivascular feet, which contact the blood capillaries and stimulate them to form a tight seal called the blood-brain barrier.
-It speeds up signal conduction in the nerve fiber.
-It produces cerebrospinal fluid.
-It is formed to assist in the regeneration of damaged fibers.
-It insulates the nerve fiber

Answer 1

Myelin is essential for the rapid transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system, primarily by speeding up signal conduction and insulating nerve fibers. It does not directly contribute to forming the blood-brain barrier, producing cerebrospinal fluid, or assisting in nerve regeneration. The correct answer is option -It speeds up signal conduction in the nerve fiber.

Step-by-step explanation:

Myelin is a lipid-rich insulating substance surrounding the axons of many neurons, crucial for the rapid and efficient transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system. Regarding the importance of myelin, it serves multiple functions critical to neural functioning:

• It speeds up signal conduction in the nerve fiber through saltatory conduction, allowing electrical impulses to 'jump' from one node of Ranvier to the next.
• It insulates the nerve fiber, which is essential to prevent signal loss and maintain the integrity of electrical signals as they travel along the axon.

While myelin is fundamental for these processes, it does not participate in forming the blood-brain barrier, producing cerebrospinal fluid, or assisting in the regeneration of damaged fibers directly. Myelin is produced by glial cells (oligodendrocytes in the CNS and Schwann cells in the PNS), and its structure is not only composed of lipids but also includes proteins that hold the glial cell membranes together tightly.