Pronunciation: [nˈɜːv fˈa͡ɪbə] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "nerve fiber" is notable for its use of the letter "f" instead of "v". This is due to the fact that the word has a Latin origin, where the letter "v" was pronounced as a "w" sound. The IPA phonetic transcription for the word is /nɜːv faɪbər/ which shows the hard "f" sound. The term refers to a long, slender process of a nerve cell that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body.
A nerve fiber, also commonly referred to as a neuron or nerve cell, is a fundamental structure of the nervous system responsible for transmitting electrical impulses or signals throughout the body. These elongated, thread-like structures are made up of specialized cells called neurons, which are the building blocks of the nervous system.
Nerve fibers play a crucial role in facilitating the communication of information between various parts of the body and the brain. They form complex networks and pathways, forming connections known as synapses with other neurons, muscles, or glands. These synapses are the junctions where nerve fibers transmit signals via electrical impulses or chemical signals called neurotransmitters.
The two main types of nerve fibers are the axons and the dendrites. Axons are elongated extensions that carry signals away from the neuron's cell body, while dendrites are shorter branches that receive signals and transmit them toward the cell body. These fibers are enclosed by a protective sheath called the myelin sheath, which enhances the speed and efficiency of signal transmission.
Nerve fibers can be found throughout the body, comprising the vast network that constitutes the central nervous system, brain, and spinal cord, as well as the peripheral nervous system, which includes the nerves extending from the spinal cord to the rest of the body. The intricate web of nerve fibers allows for the coordination and regulation of bodily functions, including movement, sensation, thought processes, and the control of various organs.
One of the units of a nerve-trunk; it is the axis cylinder process of a neuron and is either medullated, i. e. surrounded by the white substance of Schwann (myelin), or non-medullated; either the medullated or non-medullated axis-cylinder may or may not be surrounded by the primitive sheath or neurilemma, so that there are four forms of nerve-fibers.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "nerve" is derived from the Latin word "nervus", which means sinew or tendon. It originally referred to the tissue that connects muscles and tendons to the body. "Fiber", on the other hand, derives from the Latin word "fibra", meaning a small thread or filament. When combined, "nerve fiber" describes the thread-like structure of nerve cells that transmit signals throughout the body.
