Nerves are mostly transparent, but the myelin surrounding the axons is shiny white as it reflects light.
Nerves are made up of nerve cells, which are also called neurons. The cell bodies of neurons are mostly transparent, containing a clear, jelly-like substance called cytoplasm. This makes the overall appearance of the nerve appear clear.
However, nerves have a protective coating called myelin, which wraps around the axons of neurons. Myelin is a fatty substance that is white in color. This white color is due to the myelin's ability to reflect light.
Therefore, the color of a nerve is a combination of the transparent nerve cell bodies and the white myelin coating. While the nerve itself is mostly transparent, the white myelin gives the nerve its characteristic white appearance.
