White matter
Areas of myelinated axons in the brain / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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White matter refers to areas of the central nervous system (CNS) that are mainly made up of myelinated axons, also called tracts.[1] Long thought to be passive tissue, white matter affects learning and brain functions, modulating the distribution of action potentials, acting as a relay and coordinating communication between different brain regions.[2]
White matter | |
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Details | |
Location | Central nervous system |
Identifiers | |
Latin | substantia alba |
MeSH | D066127 |
TA98 | A14.1.00.009 A14.1.02.024 A14.1.02.201 A14.1.04.101 A14.1.05.102 A14.1.05.302 A14.1.06.201 |
TA2 | 5366 |
FMA | 83929 |
Anatomical terminology |
White matter is named for its relatively light appearance resulting from the lipid content of myelin. However, the tissue of the freshly cut brain appears pinkish-white to the naked eye because myelin is composed largely of lipid tissue veined with capillaries. Its white color in prepared specimens is due to its usual preservation in formaldehyde.