The most rapid conduction of an impulse along an axon occurs on a fiber that is
A)thick and myelinated.
B)thick and unmyelinated.
C)thin and myelinated.
D)thin and unmyelinateD.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thick and myelinated fibers have a higher conduction velocity because the myelin sheath insulates the axon, forcing the action potential to "jump" from one node of Ranvier to the next, which is known as saltatory conduction. This preserves the strength of the signal while also increasing the speed of conduction. Thin fibers and unmyelinated fibers have slower conduction velocities because they lack this insulation and must propagate the action potential along the entire length of the axon.

The Most Rapid Conduction of an Impulse Along an Axon