Question

Action potentials generally are not transmitted along dendrites because they have:

a) Voltage-gated channels
b) Myelin sheaths
c) Lack of ion channels
d) Synaptic vesicles

Answer 1

Action potentials are not transmitted along dendrites due to the lack of ion channels. Instead, they propagate along myelinated axons in a saltatory manner, jumping from node to node. Neurons have charged membranes due to different ion concentrations inside and outside the cell.

Step-by-step explanation:

Action potentials are not generally transmitted along dendrites because they lack ion channels.

Neurons have charged membranes due to different ion concentrations inside and outside the cell. Voltage-gated ion channels control the movement of ions into and out of a neuron. When a neuronal membrane is depolarized to a certain threshold, an action potential is fired and propagated along a myelinated axon to the axon terminals. In unmyelinated axons, the action potential propagates continuously, while in myelinated axons, it happens in a saltatory manner, jumping from one node of Ranvier to the next.