WHITE MATTER

White Matter: A Primer

White matter is a type of tissue in the central nervous system consisting of nerve fibers surrounded by a fatty sheath, known as myelin. It is the communication pathway of the nervous system, responsible for the transmission of electrical signals between different parts of the brain and throughout the body. It is an essential component of the brain’s architecture and its function is essential for normal brain development and functioning.

Definition

White matter is composed of myelinated axons, which are long projections of nerve cells that carry electrical signals throughout the body. These axons are surrounded by a fatty substance called myelin, which increases the speed of signal transmission between different parts of the brain. White matter is also composed of glial cells, which provide sustenance and insulation to the myelinated axons.

History

The term ‘white matter’ was first introduced in the 19th century by German pathologist Rudolf Virchow. He noted that when the brain was cut into sections, it was composed of a white interior and a grey exterior. He concluded that the grey matter was composed of cells, whereas the white matter was composed of the connective tissue of the brain. Later, in the 20th century, with advancements in imaging technology, research on white matter further developed. This research provided a better understanding of the structure and function of white matter in the brain.

Conclusion

White matter is a type of tissue in the central nervous system consisting of myelinated axons and glial cells. It is essential for the transmission of electrical signals between different parts of the brain and throughout the body. Its function is essential for normal brain development and functioning. Research on white matter has advanced significantly since its introduction in the 19th century, providing a better understanding of its structure and function.

References

Bruno, M. A., & Simard, M. (2016). White matter structure and function. Neuropsychologia, 96, 113–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.08.022

Giedd, J. N. (2004). Structural magnetic resonance imaging of the adolescent brain. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1021(1), 77–85. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1308.009

Hassan, A., & Catani, M. (2017). Structural white matter alteration in neuropsychiatric disorders: A review of diffusion tensor imaging studies. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 74, 417–433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.10.022

Virchow, R. (1859). The Structure and Diseases of the Human Brain. https://archive.org/details/structureanddis00virgoog/page/n9