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Glite Dictionary
node of Ranvier

node of Ranvier

7.7
A gap in the covering of a nerve that helps nerve signals jump along it
  • noun
  • /noʊd əv ˈrænvieɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : nodo de Ranvier
  • Damage to the myelin sheath can disrupt the function of the nodes of Ranvier, affecting nerve signal transmission.

Examples

  • Action potentials jump from one node of Ranvier to the next in a process called saltatory conduction.

  • The nodes of Ranvier play a crucial role in the rapid conduction of nerve impulses along axons.

  • The node of Ranvier plays a crucial role in nerve signal transmission.

  • Did you know that a node of Ranvier is essential for rapid conduction?

  • The node of Ranvier allows for rapid signal transmission by enabling the jumping of action potentials along the nerve fiber.

  • In a nerve cell, the node of Ranvier is crucial for increasing the speed of electrical impulses along the axon.

  • Scientists study the node of Ranvier to understand how nerve signals are efficiently propagated in the nervous system.

Synonyms

Ranvier's nodes
vsnode of Ranvier
  • Specialized
8.8

Small gaps in the covering of a nerve fibre that help nerve signals jump quickly

is the singular technical term for the same structural gaps

Surface Forms

node of Ranvier singular
nodes of Ranvier plural

Morphology

node + of + Ranvier

Although 'node' is a general word a B1 learner may know, 'Ranvier' is a proper name and the phrase is an eponymous technical term in neurobiology. The specific meaning ('gap in the myelin sheath where impulses are propagated') is domain-specific and cannot be derived from the ordinary senses of the constituents, so learners who only know the words would not infer the intended concept.

Etymology

The noun node of Ranvier names a tiny gap, the node, in the nerve's 'myelin' insulation, like a bare spot on an electrical wire where the nerve signal can jump. That's why these nodes let nerve messages jump from gap to gap and travel very quickly.