Final answer:
Saltatory conduction is facilitated by the myelin sheath, which allows nerve impulses to rapidly jump between the nodes of Ranvier, thus speeding up the transmission along myelinated axons.
Step-by-step explanation:
Saltatory conduction is made possible by the myelin sheath. This process allows action potentials to jump from one node of Ranvier to the next, speeding up the transmission of nerve impulses along myelinated axons. Myelin acts as an insulator, which increases the speed of action potential conduction by preventing current leak. The myelinated regions transmit electrical signals at a very high speed, essentially because there is no action potential in the myelinated regions, saving cell energy. The nodes of Ranvier are crucial, as they contain voltage-gated Na+ channels where the action potential is regenerated, allowing the nerve impulse to travel rapidly along the axon without the need for continuous regeneration along the entire length of the axon.