Myelin and Signal Speed
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10 Terms
what is myelin?
a fatty insulating layer around axons that improves signal conduction
what are nodes of Ranvier?
gaps between myelin segments with high densities of channels
what is saltatory conduction?
the action potential effectively jumps from node to node
why does myelin speed up signalling?
it allows signals to jump between nodes instead of slowly moving along every part of the membrane
what kinds of neurons are often heavily myelinated?
sensory and motor neurons
why do sensory and motor neurons need myelin?
their functions require fast signaling
what kinds of fibres are less myelinated?
some pain/nociceptive and organ-related fibers
what happens when myelin is lost?
signalling slows and may fail to reach the axon terminal
why does multiple sclerosis cause many systems?
demyelination affects many neurons involved in many functions
why is white matter white?
it contains many myelinated fibres, and myelin appears white