As we have learnt in Saltatory Conduction & All-or-None Principle of Nerve Impulse
- If an axon is unmyelinated, an action potential at one locale stimulates an adjacent part of the axon membrane to produce an action potential.
- In myelinated fibres, an action potential at one node of Ranvier causes an action potential at the next node.
- This is called saltation.
- This type of conduction, called saltatory conduction, is much faster than otherwise.
- In thin, unmyelinated axons, the action potential travels about 1.0 m/sec, and in thick, myelinated fibres, the rate is more than 100 m/sec.
- The conduction of a nerve impulse (action potential) is an all-or-none event; that is, either an axon conducts a nerve impulse or it does not.
- The intensity of a message is determined by how many nerve impulses are generated within a given time span.
Therefore,
I. Saltatory conduction of nerve impulse is much faster.
II. In myelinated fibres, an action potential at one node of Ranvier causes an action potential at the next node.
III. The conduction of a nerve impulse (action potential) is an all-or-none event; that is, either an axon conducts a nerve impulse or it does not.
IV. If an axon is unmyelinated, an action potential at one locale stimulates an adjacent part of the axon membrane to produce an action potential.
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