Editing Neurilemma

{{Short description|Layer present on Schwann cells of PNS neurons}}{{Infobox microanatomy
| Name        = Neurilemma
| Latin       = 
| Image       = Gray631.png
| Caption     = Diagram of longitudinal sections of medullated nerve fibers.
| Width       = 
| Image2      = Myelin sheath (1).svg|

| Caption2    = Cross section of an axon.<br />
1. Axon<br />
2. Nucleus of Schwann cell<br />
3. [[Schwann cell]]<br />
4. [[Myelin sheath]]<br />
5. '''Neurilemma'''
| Location = [[Schwann cell]]
| System = [[Peripheral nervous system]]
}}
'''Neurilemma''' (also known as '''neurolemma''', '''sheath of Schwann''', or '''Schwann's sheath''')<ref name="Dorlands">{{cite book|last1=Albert|first1=Daniel|title=Dorland's illustrated medical dictionary.|date=2012|publisher=Saunders/Elsevier|location=Philadelphia, PA|isbn=9781416062578|pages=1262–1263|edition= 32nd}}</ref> is the outermost [[cell nucleus|nucleated]] [[cytoplasm]]ic layer of [[Schwann cell]]s (also called neurilemmocytes) that surrounds the [[axon]] of the [[neuron]]. It forms the outermost layer of the [[nerve fiber]] in the [[peripheral nervous system]].<ref name="Marieb" >{{cite book |author1=Elaine N. Marieb |author2=Katja Hoehn | title = Human Anatomy & Physiology (7th Ed.) |url=https://archive.org/details/humananatomyphys00mari_4 |url-access=registration | publisher = Pearson | pages = [https://archive.org/details/humananatomyphys00mari_4/page/394 394–5] | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-0-8053-5909-1}}</ref>

The neurilemma is underlain by the [[myelin |myelin sheath]] (also known as the medullary sheath).  In the [[central nervous system]], axons are myelinated by [[oligodendrocytes]], thus lack neurilemma. The myelin sheaths of oligodendrocytes do not have neurilemma because excess [[cytoplasm]] is directed centrally toward the oligodendrocyte cell body.

Neurilemma serves a protective function for peripheral nerve fibers.  Damaged nerve fibers may regenerate if the [[Soma (biology)|cell body]] is not damaged and the neurilemma remains intact.  The neurilemma forms a regeneration tube through which the growing axon re-establishes its original connection.

[[Neurilemoma]] is a tumor of the neurilemma.<ref name=Dorlands/>

==References==
{{Reflist|1}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070212061042/http://www.dmacc.edu/instructors/periphxs.htm Histology at dmacc.edu]

{{Nervous tissue}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Neurohistology]]


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