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"Jumping"

Definition

In the context of neural firing, "jumping" refers to the process of an action potential rapidly propagating from one node of Ranvier to another along an myelinated axon. This skipping behavior enables faster transmission by conserving energy and speeding up signal conduction.

Analogy

Think of "jumping" like hopping across stepping stones in a river. Instead of swimming or walking through water, you can efficiently cross by strategically hopping from one stone (node) to another. Similarly, when an action potential jumps from one node of Ranvier to another, it avoids traveling along the entire length of the axon and speeds up signal transmission.

Related terms

Myelin: Myelin is a fatty substance produced by specialized cells called oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). It forms a protective coating around certain axons and helps facilitate rapid conduction.

Conduction Velocity: Conduction velocity refers to how fast an electrical impulse travels along an axon. The presence of myelin and jumping between nodes contribute to increased conduction velocity.

Demyelination: Demyelination is the loss or damage to myelin sheaths surrounding nerve fibers. It can result in impaired neural communication and is associated with various neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.