Final answer:
Rapid action potential conduction in myelinated neurons is due to the action potential 'jumping' from one Node of Ranvier to the next, a process called saltatory conduction. Myelin insulates the axon, preventing current leak and speeding up neural communication by only activating voltage-gated channels at these nodes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The very rapid conduction of action potentials down myelinated neurons occurs in part because the action potential jumps from node to node between myelination. This is known as saltatory conduction. Myelin acts as an insulator that prevents current from leaking out, allowing the action potential to 'jump' from one Node of Ranvier to the next, where the voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels are located.
This process increases the speed of action potential conduction compared to unmyelinated axons, where the propagation is continuous and much slower as the Na+ influx must happen at every point along the axon's membrane. In myelinated axons, the action potential propagation is faster because it skips the insulated parts of the axon, only activating voltage-gated channels at the nodes. This efficient method ensures that depolarization spreads quickly and optimally. Myelinated neurons illustrate the importance of node to node transmission in maintaining high-speed neural communication.