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What is salutatory conduction and why are myelinated nerves so much faster than unmyelinated nerves

User Cheresse
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Myelin greatly speeds up action potential conduction because of exactly that reason: myelin acts as an electrical insulator! Myelin sheath reduces membrane capacitance and increases membrane resistance in the inter-node intervals, thus allowing a fast, saltatory movement of action potentials from node to node.

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User Skymook
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