Abstract
In 1854 Virchow described sheaths around the nerve fibers in the central nervous system and suggested the name myelin. It is not certain when Schwann (1810–1882) described the cells which have since been named after him that supply the myelin sheaths around the peripheral nerve fiber (1839?). In 1878, Ranvier described the nodes since named after him in Leçons sur l’histologie du système nerveux. He believed that the nodes prevented the essentially liquid myelin from flowing to the bottom of the nerve fiber (axon). But despite this conviction, he showed considerable insight into the functional role of the myelin sheath, both as an insulator and as a facilitatory agent in CNS functions. It was not until 1960–1961, that the role of the oligodendrocyte in the formation of myelin in the central nervous system became clear, due to the work of Bunge.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Ham AW (1974) Histology. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 7th ed
Herndon RM, Rudick RA (1987) Multiple sclerosis and related conditions. In: Baker AB, Joynt RJ, Clinical neurology: Philadelphia, Harper and Row publishers, chapter 33
Holtzman E, Novikoff AB (1984) Cells and Organelles. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishing
Poser CH (1987) The dysmyelinating diseases. In Baker AB, Joynt RI, Clinical neurology, vol 3, Philadelphia, Harper and Row publishers, chapter 34
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Valk, J., van der Knaap, M.S. (1989). Introduction. In: Magnetic Resonance of Myelin, Myelination, and Myelin Disorders. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-02568-0_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-02568-0_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-02570-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-02568-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive