demyelination
Nerve Insulation Damage
Plain-language definition
Loss of the myelin sheath insulating nerve fibers, slowing or blocking signal transmission. The central process in MS and related conditions.
Where this term comes up
“The test is most often used to look for slowed signal conduction between the eye and the visual cortex, especially when an optic nerve or demyelinating condition is suspected.”
“MS damages the myelin coating of nerves (demyelination).”
Condition · Multiple Sclerosis Vision Complications
“The most common cause is demyelination-damage to the protective coating (myelin) around nerve fibers.”
Guide · Optic Neuritis and MS Risk - Understanding Your Diagnosis
- Category
- Condition, finding, or disease process
- Also written as
- demyelinating
Pathology terms describe diseases, tissue changes, exam findings, or complications that can affect vision or eye comfort.
Related glossary terms
- MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- OCT
Optical Coherence Tomography
- ischemia
Reduced Blood Supply
- bilaterally
On Both Sides
- hemorrhage
Bleeding
- chiasm
Optic Nerve Crossing
A note on medical context
A glossary definition can explain a word, but it cannot tell you whether a symptom or test result is serious. If this term came from an article, use the full article and your clinician's guidance for context.