key term - Propagation

Definition

In the context of the nervous system and nervous tissue, propagation is the process by which an electrical impulse travels along the membrane of a nerve cell. This action allows for the communication of information throughout the nervous system.

Related terms

Action potential: A temporary reversal of an electrical charge across a cell membrane that occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon.

Synapse:

The junction between two neurons or between a neuron and a muscle/gland, where neurotransmitters are released to transmit impulses.

Myelination: The process by which myelin sheaths are formed around nerves, increasing the speed at which electrical impulses propagate along the myelinated fiber