myelin Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a white fatty substance that forms a medullary sheath around the axis cylinder of some nerve fibers
    myeline; medulla.

WordNet


My"e*lin noun
Etymology
Gr. marrow.
Definitions
  1. (Physiol. Chem.) (a) A soft white substance constituting the medullary sheats of nerve fibers, and composed mainly of cholesterin, lecithin, cerebrin, albumin, and some fat. (b) One of a group of phosphorized principles occurring in nerve tissue, both in the brain and nerve fibers.

Webster 1913