describe the process of saltatory conduction and describe ho

describe the process of saltatory conduction and describe how it effects the cell

Solution

To understand this, let us start first with what is of fundamental importance in the question - Polarization and depolarization.

Electrolytes (salts) such as NaCl are essential part of all the cells including neurons. They dissociate in water (NaCl ----> Na⁺ + Cl^-).

When two opposite charges are separated by a distance they create a system called dipole the processing is polarization. With this, there generates an electrical potential across the diplole. In absence of external forces the two charges tend to mingle and neutralize causing disruption of the dipole and the so called potential.

Neurons cell membranes possess active sodium pumps which pump sodium ions (positively charged) from inside of the cell membrane to the exterior surface leaving only chloride ions (negatively charged). This creates a potential difference across the neuron membrane. When a stimulus arrives the sodium pumps deactivate and the sodium from outside spontaneously goes inside the cell causing cell charge neutralization. This is called depolarization. The polarization-depolarization event is called impulse. This impulse continues and we call this conduction.

The axon of the neuron is insulated with myelin sheath at regular intervals. The sodium pumps are property of the cell membrane. Myelin sheath covers almost 98% of the axon surface leaving a minute space for polarization-depolarization to happen. The event of polarization-depolarization is an energy-requiring process.

In presence of myelin sheath, the polarization-depolarization happens only at the spaces in between the sheath (called Ranvier\'s nodes). This improves the speed and the energy efficiency of the cell. The stimulus appears to jump or leap across the Ranvier\'s nodes that why it is called saltatory conduction.