Asked by Quessia Mukanda on May 25, 2024
Verified
Saltatory conduction occurs when
A) sodium levels are highest on the outside of the axonal membrane.
B) sodium gates open.
C) resting potential fails to be reset.
D) neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft.
E) an action potential jumps from node to node.
Saltatory Conduction
Movement of nerve impulses from one node to another along a myelinated axon.
Axonal Membrane
The specialized cell membrane on the axon part of a neuron, responsible for carrying nerve impulses.
Resting Potential
The difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a resting neuron's plasma membrane.
- Understand the anatomy and purpose of neurons, including the generation and propagation of action potentials.
- Understand the role of myelination in nerve impulse conduction.
Verified Answer
KB
katherine banuelosMay 25, 2024
Final Answer :
E
Explanation :
Saltatory conduction refers to the rapid movement of an action potential along a myelinated axon, where the electrical signal appears to "jump" quickly from one node of Ranvier to the next. This is because the myelin sheath insulates the axon, preventing ion flow and subsequent depolarization in the regions covered by myelin. Instead, the depolarization occurs only at the nodes of Ranvier, where ion channels are densely packed and readily allow the influx of ions needed to trigger an action potential. The result is a much faster propagation of the electrical signal along the axon, which is known as saltatory conduction.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the anatomy and purpose of neurons, including the generation and propagation of action potentials.
- Understand the role of myelination in nerve impulse conduction.