Describe how an action potential propagates along a myelinat

Describe how an action potential propagates along a myelinated and an unmyelinated axon, including how the potential is spread along the membrane. What two benefits do myelinated axons have over unmyelinated ones? Provide one way in which a myelinated axon is similar to an electrical wire and one way in which an axon is different than a wire. How are these two processes similar and how are they different? Why does multiple sclerosis (MS) prevent transmission in myelinated axons (that is, why can’t these axons just propagate the action potential in the same way that an unmyelinated axon does)?

Solution

Action potential propagates along myelinated:

The myelin sheath around most vertebrate axons gives a layer of insulation that stops the loss of the electric signal from an movement potential. Myelin is lipid substance that does not behavior strength nicely. Because of the insulation furnished through the myelin, motion potentials can travel tons extra hastily down myelinated axons than down unmyelinated axons. Myelin additionally isolates axons from one another.

Action potential along unmyelinated:

Action potentials in neurons that lack myelin sheaths travel a whole lot greater slowly than movement potentials in equivalent neurons sheathed in myelin. The speed of motion potentials is likewise dependent on the diameter of the axon. Wider axons have lower resistance than narrow axons and signals can journey faster in big axons. Some invertebrates, which include squids, have large unmyelinated axons that could transmit indicators hastily. In most cases, unmyelinated neurons are short in order that the velocity of the signal isn\'t always that critical. The grey remember on the outside of the mind is composed on unmyelinated tissue.

Advantages of myelinated over unmyelinated:

1. Myelin speeds the conduction of nerve impulses by means of a factor of 10 compared to unmyelinated fibers of the equal diameter.
2. Provides quicker communication exchange among brain and remote body components.

Axon v/s wire:

The axon is the a part of the nerve cell that transmits the nerve impulses from one nerve cell to any other, in a comparable way that electrical impulse are transferred down a wire.


-telephone wire info can be transferred over prolonged distance at excessive fee due to the fact wire is brilliant conductor of electrons, well insulated, suspended in air
-strength in cytosol of axon is carried by the usage of electrically charged atoms in place of loose electrons and make cytosol less conductive and axon not nicely insulated so electric powered present day could not flow a ways earlier than leaking out.

Multiple sclerosis:

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s own immune cells attack this myelin sheath. T cells strip the myelin from the nerve fibers it protects, that means the fibers are left exposed and uninsulated. These unprotected nerves are then less capable of conduct electrical impulses from the mind to other parts of the body and the nerve indicators despatched to the brain are behind schedule and distorted.