Final answer:
An action potential can be propagated along an axon because the axon contains voltage-gated channels that enable the sequential triggering of the nerve impulse as it travels down the axon.
Step-by-step explanation:
An action potential can be propagated along an axon because there are 4) voltage-gated channels in the membrane.
Action potentials are crucial for the communication between neurons. These electrical impulses travel along axons through the sequential opening and closing of voltage-gated ion channels. In unmyelinated axons, action potentials are propagated continuously since these channels are distributed all along the axon. However, in myelinated axons, action potentials jump between the nodes of Ranvier—a process known as saltatory conduction. This type of conduction is much faster due to the presence of voltage-gated channels only at the nodes. As the action potential travels, it triggers a nerve impulse that stimulates adjacent sections of the cell membrane in a domino effect. Eventually, when the action potential reaches the axon terminals, it prompts the release of neurotransmitters into a synapse, communicating with the next neuron.