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Myelin and Saltatory Conduction

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Myelin insulates an axon, forcing the action potential to "jump" between unmyelinated gaps called nodes of Ranvier, a process called saltatory conduction that speeds signal travel.

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Multiple sclerosis damages myelin, slowing conduction as current leaks from previously insulated stretches of axon.

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Nodes of Ranvier are where the signal regenerates — without them, channels would have to fire continuously along the entire axon.