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Glite Dictionary
Ranvier's nodes

Ranvier's nodes

8.8
Small gaps in the covering of a nerve fibre that help nerve signals jump quickly
  • noun
  • /ˈrænvieɚz noʊdz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : nodos de Ranvier
  • The action potential jumps from one Ranvier's node to the next, speeding up the transmission along the nerve.

Examples

  • Demyelinating diseases can damage Ranvier's nodes, disrupting nerve signal conduction.

  • Researchers studied how the spacing of Ranvier's nodes affects the efficiency of electrical impulses.

  • The Ranvier's nodes are crucial for nerve signal transmission.

  • Can you explain the function of Ranvier's nodes?

  • Demyelinating diseases can damage Ranvier's nodes, disrupting nerve signal conduction.

  • The action potential jumps from one Ranvier's node to the next, speeding up the transmission along the nerve.

  • Researchers studied how the spacing of Ranvier's nodes affects the efficiency of electrical impulses.

Synonyms

node of Ranvier
vsRanvier's nodes
  • Specialized
7.7

A gap in the covering of a nerve that helps nerve signals jump along it

refers to the plural form indicating several gaps and a possessive style

Surface Forms

Ranvier's nodes singular
Ranvier's nodes plural

Morphology

Ranvier's + nodes

This is an eponymous technical term (nodes of Ranvier) combining a proper name with the general word 'nodes'; a B1 learner who knows 'node' and the name 'Ranvier' will not be able to derive the specialized biomedical meaning (gaps in the myelin sheath that speed nerve conduction) without domain knowledge. The expression is highly technical and language-specific rather than compositionally predictable, so its meaning is not transparently recoverable from the parts.

Etymology

Ranvier's nodes are named after the scientist Louis-Antoine Ranvier, who saw small bare spots—nodes—in the fatty coat around nerve fibres. These tiny 'gaps' let electrical signals 'jump' from node to node, which helps nerves 'speed up' messages.