node of Ranvier

[rahn-vyey, rahn-vyey]

noun

Cell Biology.

1. a gap occurring at regular intervals between segments of myelin sheath along a nerve axon.

node of Ranvier

/ ˈrɑːnvɪˌeɪ /

noun

1. any of the gaps that occur at regular intervals along the length of the sheath of a myelinated nerve fibre, at which the axon is exposed

Word History and Origins

Origin of node of Ranvier¹

1880–85; after Louis-Antoine Ranvier (1835–1922), French histologist, who described it in 1878

Word History and Origins

Origin of node of Ranvier¹

C19: named after Louis-Antoine Ranvier (1835–1922), French histologist

Example Sentences

As the myelin lifts off the axon, the amount of bare axon at the node of Ranvier increases.

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Surrounding the node of Ranvier is a glial cell called an astrocyte.

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But until recently, myelin biologists tended to ignore the unique type of astrocyte that contacts an axon at a node of Ranvier.

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Also, as a node of Ranvier becomes squeezed more tightly by the adjoining myelin segments, an electrical impulse is initiated more rapidly because it takes less time to charge the smaller amount of nodal membrane to the voltage that triggers ion channels to open and generate an impulse.

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The myelin sheath is attached to the axon by a spiral junction flanking the node of Ranvier.

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