What is white Matter

[kwhitser]

I had an MRI because i have Anosmia. The Doctor wanted to rule out a brain tumor so we did the MRI. the results were no tumor but I have decreased signals in the white matter of the brain. What does this mean?

[bendzel]

Can you explain what bright signal intensity in right frontal white matter might mean?
Thanks

[bendzel]

Can you explain what bright signal intensity in right frontal white matter might mean?
Thanks

[DrKalraMD]

Hi, “white matter is composed of myelinated nerve cell processes, or axons, which connect various gray matter areas (the locations of nerve cell bodies) of the brain to each other and carry nerve impulses between neurons.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common diseases which affect white matter. In MS lesions, the myelin shield around the axons has been destroyed by inflammation.
Changes in white matter known as amyloid plaques are associated with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. White matter injuries ("axonal shearing") may be reversible, while gray matter regeneration is less likely”.
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_matter

[Laya1218]

This is what white matter is:
The white matter is the tissue through which messages pass between different areas of gray matter within the nervous system. Using a computer network as an analogy, the gray matter can be thought of as the actual computers themselves, whereas the white matter represents the network cables connecting the computers together. The white matter is white because of the fatty substance (myelin) that surrounds the nerve fibers (axons). This myelin is found in almost all long nerve fibers and acts as an electrical insulation. This is important for it allows the messages to pass quickly from place to place.
Hope this helps ,
Laya

[Suz855]

i need to know what "white matter" on the brain is?  i've had several MRIs and that is what was detected.