Question

Which of the following statements about salutatory conduction is true?

1) It is slower than in an unmyelinated axon
2) It is faster than in an unmyelinated axon
3) It stops at regular intervals
4) It continues without decrement

Answer 1

Saltatory conduction in a myelinated axon is faster than continuous conduction in an unmyelinated axon.

Step-by-step explanation:

Propagation along an unmyelinated axon is referred to as continuous conduction; along the length of a myelinated axon, it is saltatory conduction. Continuous conduction is slow because there are always voltage-gated Na+ channels opening, and more and more Na+ is rushing into the cell. Saltatory conduction is faster because the action potential basically jumps from one node to the next, and the new influx of Na+ renews the depolarized membrane.

Therefore, the correct statement about salutatory conduction is: 2) It is faster than in an unmyelinated axon.