Question

Explain saltatory conduction using the terms action potential (nerve impulse), Schwann cell, oligodendrocyte, myelin, myelin sheath, energy conservation, voltage-gated channels, channel distribution and nodes of Ranvier. In which part of a neuron does saltatory conduction occur?

Answer 1

Saltatory conduction is a rapid form of action potential propagation in myelinated axons, characterized by the impulse 'jumping' from node to node, facilitated by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells through the formation of the myelin sheath.

Step-by-step explanation:

Saltatory conduction is a mode of action potential propagation that takes place in myelinated axons, where the electrical signal 'jumps' from one node to the next. This process involves specialized cells, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system, that produce the myelin sheath. Myelin acts as an insulator that enhances the speed of neural transmission while conserving energy. The nodes of Ranvier, which are gaps between myelinated segments, are rich in voltage-gated channels that allow for the depolarization necessary for the action potential to 'leap' across the axon. This efficient mode of transmission, which results in faster communication between neurons, also conserves energy as these channels are concentrated at the nodes rather than being distributed along the entire length of the axon. Saltatory conduction primarily occurs in the axon of neurons.