What process allows an electrical impulse to jump from node to node along a myelinated axon?

The process in which an electrical impulse jumps from node to node along a myelinated axon is known as saltatory conduction. This phenomenon occurs because myelin, the insulating layer around the axon, causes the action potential to be propagated only at the nodes of Ranvier—gaps in the myelin sheath.

When an action potential is generated at one of these nodes, it causes a rapid depolarization of the membrane at that point. The electrical signal then travels to the next node, where it is again amplified, effectively "jumping" over the myelinated sections of the axon. This jumping significantly speeds up the conduction velocity of the impulse compared to an unmyelinated axon, where the action potential would have to propagate continuously along the entire length of the membrane.

The other processes mentioned, such as continuous conduction, depolarization, and impulse propagation, involve different mechanisms of signal transmission in neurons. Continuous conduction refers to the slower propagation of action potentials along unmyelinated axons. Depolarization describes the change in membrane potential that occurs during an action potential but does not specifically refer to the jumping mechanism. Impulse propagation is a more general term that can include different methods of signal transmission, but it