Peripheral nerve

The myelin sheath in this section shows prominently because the tissue was fixed with osmium, retaining the lipid components of myelin.  Individual Schwann cells can either associate with a single axon, forming a myelin sheath, or can invest multiple axons, which are then referred to as unmyelinated.  Toluidine blue stain,  1000x

The myelin sheath in this section shows prominently because the tissue was fixed with osmium, retaining the lipid components of myelin.  Individual Schwann cells can either associate with a single axon, forming a myelin sheath, or can invest multiple axons, which are then referred to as unmyelinated.  Toluidine blue stain,  1000x

The myelin sheath in this section shows prominently because the tissue was fixed with osmium, retaining the lipid components of myelin.  Individual Schwann cells can either associate with a single axon, forming a myelin sheath, or can invest multiple axons, which are then referred to as unmyelinated.  Toluidine blue stain,  1000x

Unmyelinated axons are generally smaller than myelinated axons.  At this magnification, groups of unmyelinated axons are just barely resolvable as small circular profiles or dots within each red outline.  Each unmyelinated axon is surrounded by Schwann cell cytoplasm and plasma membrane.  Unmyelinated axons conduct more slowly than do myelinated axons.

The myelin sheath in this section shows prominently because the tissue was fixed with osmium, retaining the lipid components of myelin.  Individual Schwann cells can either associate with a single axon, forming a myelin sheath, or can invest multiple axons, which are then referred to as unmyelinated.  Toluidine blue stain,  1000x

The myelin sheath in this section shows prominently because the tissue was fixed with osmium, retaining the lipid components of myelin.  Individual Schwann cells can either associate with a single axon, forming a myelin sheath, or can invest multiple axons, which are then referred to as unmyelinated.  Toluidine blue stain,  1000x