Final answer:
Cajal's law of dynamic polarization describes that neural transmission moves from dendrites to the cell body, and then down the axon. Voltage-gated ion channels and the myelination of the axon are important for the orderly and rapid transmission of electrical signals along the neuron.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cajal's law of dynamic polarization states that neural/electrical transmission proceeds in one direction: dendrites → cell body → axon.
In more detail, this process involves signal transmission through various mechanisms within the neuron. The transmission begins at the dendrites, which receive signals from other neurons. From there, the signal moves to the cell body (also known as the soma), where it can be processed. Finally, if the signal is strong enough to cause an action potential, it travels down the axon, away from the cell body towards the synaptic terminals. At the synaptic terminals, the action potential causes the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, which can then bind to receptors on the next neuron's dendrites, continuing the signal transmission.
During the action potential, ion channels play a crucial role. These channels open and close in response to changes in membrane potential, which allows ions to flow in and out of the neuron, creating the electrical impulse that propagates down the axon. Voltage-gated channels are critical for this process, especially in the rapid and orderly transmission of the action potential. This is further facilitated by myelination in some neurons, which speeds up the conduction of the action potential through saltatory conduction, where the action potential 'jumps' from node to node along the myelinated sections of the axon.