unmyelinated
|un-my-el-in-at-ed|
🇺🇸
/ʌnˈmaɪəlɪˌneɪtɪd/
🇬🇧
/ʌnˈmaɪəlɪneɪtɪd/
not covered with myelin
Etymology
'unmyelinated' originates from English, specifically the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'myelinated' from 'myelin,' which refers to the insulating sheath around nerves.
'unmyelinated' formed in modern English by adding the prefix 'un-' to 'myelinated,' which itself comes from 'myelin' and the suffix '-ated.'
Initially, it meant 'not having a myelin sheath,' and this meaning has remained unchanged in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
lacking a myelin sheath; not covered with myelin (a fatty substance that insulates nerve fibers).
Unmyelinated nerve fibers conduct impulses more slowly than myelinated ones.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/03 17:50