Professor Cook is lecturing on the importance of the myelin sheath. He told that class that _____.
A) myelin is the only structure that can prevent action potentials from traveling the wrong direction.
B) the fatty nature of the myelin speeds up the action potential down the length of the axon
C) the fatty nature of myelin provide storage for key nutrients for the neuron
D) myelin increases the strength of the action potential

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fatty nature of the myelin sheath speeds up the transmission of the action potential down the length of the axon by allowing it to "jump" from one node of Ranvier to the next, a process known as saltatory conduction. Myelin does not prevent action potentials from traveling in the wrong direction, store nutrients for the neuron, or increase the strength of the action potential.

Professor Cook Is Lecturing on the Importance of the Myelin