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Myelin

myelin (insulating sheath of nerve fibres)

noun mue-ay-LEEN Rare
Body & Health Body Parts

Origin: from Greek myelos (marrow)

Usage Note

Myelin is the fatty insulating layer around axons that speeds nerve conduction. Its destruction causes Multiple Sklerose (multiple sclerosis); B2 learners reading about neurological diseases encounter the term regularly.

Examples

"Bei Multipler Sklerose wird die Myelinschicht der Nervenfasern angegriffen."

Natural Translation

In multiple sclerosis, the myelin sheath of nerve fibres is attacked.

Literal Translation

At Multiple Sclerosis is the myelin-layer of the nerve-fibres attacked.

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