Final answer:
Myelin is a lipid-rich sheath produced by glial cells that insulates nerve axons, ensuring the efficient transmission of electrical signals. Damage to the myelin sheath can result in neurological issues, as seen in disorders like multiple sclerosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Myelin is a lipid-rich substance that forms a sheath around certain nerve cell axons in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Created by glial cells, which are oligodendrocytes in the CNS and Schwann cells in the PNS, myelin acts as insulation to increase the speed at which electrical signals travel along the neuron. The myelin sheath is crucial to the proper functioning of the nervous system, as it facilitates the rapid transmission of electrical signals. Abnormal accumulation or loss of molecules comprising the myelin sheath, as seen in diseases like multiple sclerosis, leads to neurological dysfunctions.
When there is damage to the myelin sheath or issues such as the buildup or loss of molecules within it, it affects the sheath's integrity. This can cause a slowdown or blockage in the transmission of electrical impulses, leading to a range of neurological symptoms, such as in the case of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating diseases.