nervous system

Question

Myelin sheath increases conduction velocity primarily by:

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1. **Myelination**: Many axons are covered by an insulating layer called the myelin sheath (formed by Schwann cells or oligodendrocytes).
2. **Nodes of Ranvier**: There are periodic gaps in this insulation where the axonal membrane is exposed.
3. **Saltatory Conduction**: In myelinated neurons, the action potential doesn't travel continuously along the membrane. Instead, it 'jumps' from one node to the next.
4. **Effect**: This significantly increases the speed of nerve impulse transmission compared to unmyelinated fibers of the same diameter.
5. **Resistance**: Myelin actually **increases** membrane resistance, forcing current to flow down the axon to the next node.

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