What is the primary function of the myelin sheath found on many axons?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: To increase the speed of impulse conduction
The myelin sheath acts as an electrical insulator. It allows for saltatory conduction, where the action potential jumps between the Nodes of Ranvier, significantly increasing the speed of the nerve impulse.
Practice all 20 Tissues: Epithelial, Connective, Muscular, Nervous questions
Keep practicing
More Tissues: Epithelial, Connective, Muscular, Nervous questions
- The 'ground substance' of blood, a specialized fluid connective tissue, is known as:
- Which muscle tissue is characterized by being voluntary, striated, and possessing multiple peripherally located nuclei?
- Where would you most likely find ciliated simple columnar epithelium?
- What type of cell-to-cell junction prevents the leakage of contents between epithelial cells, such as in the lining of the stomach?
- The tough, outer covering of bones (periosteum) is composed of which tissue type?
- Which of the following is an example of an 'Acellular' component of a tissue?