How does myelin affect neural transmission?
1 Answer
Myelin is a phospholipid conglomerate that is made by cells called oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells in the nervous system.
These cells surround some (not all) axons of the nervous system. When wrapped around an axon multiple times, the axon becomes 'insulated'; this means that it now can transmit electrical impulses faster than it did when unmyelinated.
This transfer of very quick action potentials, or electrochemical impulses, down an axon is hastened by the presence of separations between these myelin-giving cells. These separations are called nodes. Then, the electrochemical impulses end up 'jumping' between nodes (called Nodes of Ranvier) which leads to a very, very quick nerve impulse conduction process called salutatory conduction.
