In article <NEWTNews.850283429.30508.lae2 at behsci14.hmc.psu.edu>, "Loren A. Evey" (lae2 at psu.edu) writes:
>>>> > How does an impulse travel down an axon in action potential
>>>Major snip
>> At the end of the journey, at the synaptic terminal, the voltage
>sensative
>> sodium channels are joined by voltage sensative calcium channels, and
>it
>> is the influx of calcium that is responsible for causing the
>> neurotransmitters, packages in little membrane vesicles, to be released
>> onto the next cell. That next cell may be another neuron, and the
>whole
>> thing could start again at the next cell, and so on ...
>>>> Hope that helped.
>>>> Matt
>>Excellent, would you extend your explanation to include saltatory
>conduction? Thanks.
>And having done that could you please explain how the pulse
transmission velocity is *increased* by the myelin wrapping that
normally appears on certain axons? What physical principles are
involved and how are they involved in this process?
With best wishes - Gord