- saltatory conduction
- the rapid passage of a potential from node (of Ranvier) to node of a myelinated nerve fiber, rather than along the full length of the membrane.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
saltatory conduction
Look at other dictionaries:
Saltatory conduction — For Saltation definition, and other use disambiguation, see Saltation Saltatory conduction (from the Latin saltare , to hop or leap) is a means by which action potentials are transmitted along myelinated nerve fibers.MechanismBecause the… … Wikipedia
saltatory conduction — A method of neuronal transmission in vertebrate nerves, where only specialized nodes of Ranvier participate in excitation. This reduces the capacitance of the neuron, allowing much faster transmission. See myelin, Schwann cells … Dictionary of molecular biology
saltatory — Pertaining to, or characterized by, saltation. * * * sal·ta·to·ry sal tə .tōr ē, sȯl , .tȯr adj proceeding by leaps rather than by gradual transitions <saltatory conduction of impulses in myelinated nerve fibers> * * * sal·ta·to·ry… … Medical dictionary
conduction — 1. The act of transmitting or conveying certain forms of energy, such as heat, sound, or electricity, from one point to another, without evident movement in the conducting body. 2. The transmission of stimuli of various sorts by living protoplasm … Medical dictionary
Action potential — In physiology, an action potential is a short lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory. Action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, called… … Wikipedia
Myelin sheath gap — Drawing of a peripheral nerve axon (labeled axis cylinder ), showing a node of Ranvier along with other features … Wikipedia
Nodes of Ranvier — are known as the gaps (about 1 micrometer in diameter) formed between myelin sheath cells along axons or nerve fibers. OverviewSeveral vertebrate axons are surrounded by a myelin sheath allowing rapid and efficient saltatory propagation of action … Wikipedia
Schwann cell — Structure of a typical neuron Schwann cells wrapped around an axon Dendrite … Wikipedia
Ichiji Tasaki — Dr. Ichiji Tasaki (田崎一二) is a Japanese biophysicist and physician involved in research relating to the electical impulses in the nervous system. He is crediting with discovering the insulating function of the myelin sheath. His discoveries… … Wikipedia
saltation — A dancing or leaping, as in a disease ( e.g., chorea) or physiologic function ( e.g., saltatory conduction). [L. saltatio, fr. salto, pp. atus, to dance, fr. salio, to leap] * * * sal·ta·tion sal tā shən, sȯl n 1) the origin of a new species or … Medical dictionary
