Answer to Question #138762 in Cell Biology for Leona Lundrigan

Question

an axon has been demylinated. will saluatory conduction occur? explain.

Answer 1

Saltatory conduction is the propagation of electrical impulses from one node of Ranvier to the next node thereby increasing the rate of propagation of the impulses. Demyelination, however, would be described as ripping the myelin sheath from the surface of an axon during an inflammation. The overall consequence of demyelination phenomenon is a slower rate of impulse propagation across one node to the next one due to slower rates of progress propagation of depolarization that happens along the axons. Typically, the rates of action potential propagation are 150 m/s in myelinated axons as compared to a range of 0.5 to 10 m/s in demyelinated axons. The myelin sheath plays a vital role in facilitating a quicker 'jumping' of action potentials across nodes of myelinated axons.