Explain6 marksChallenge
In a comparative study, researchers measured the conduction velocity of action potentials along two types of neurones from the same mammal. Type A is a myelinated motor neurone; Type B is an unmyelinated sensory neurone. The results are shown below.
| Neurone type | Conduction velocity (m/s) |
|---|---|
| Type A (myelinated) | 50 |
| Type B (unmyelinated) | 2 |
Explain how the structure of a myelinated neurone enables saltatory conduction and why this results in a much higher conduction velocity compared with an unmyelinated neurone.