Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
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.
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