Definition for Saltatory conduction
From Biology Forums Dictionary
1) A type of conduction in which sodium ions move into the cell and the charge moves rapidly through the cytosol to the next node, where the action potential continues.
2) Saltatory conduction is the propagation of action potentials along myelinated axons from one node of Ranvier to the next node, increasing the conduction velocity of action potentials. Absent nodes (uninsulated sections) separated by the myelin sheaths, an electrical potential spike must be rebuilt many more times along the axonal membrane. Thus the conduction we describe here is propagation of ion exchanges across a nerve cell membrane, and is not similar to conduction of electrons in an electrical circuit.
