What adaptions can a neurone have in order impulses to be transmitted faster?

A neurones role is to transmit electrical impulses rapidly around the organisms body so that the organism can respond to changes in both their external and internal environments. Their structure consists of several key features such as a cell body, dendrons / dendrites and an axon. 

Neurones which transmit impulses faster could have 1 or both of the following adaptions; myelinaiton or larger diameter of axon.

Myelination consists of a myelin sheath wrapped around the axon, produced by specialsed cells called Shwann cells. The meylin sheath acts as an insulating layer speeding up the rate of conduction. Gaps between the shwann cells are called nodes of ranvier. These also help to speed up the transmission, as the impulse is progagated at these points, jumping from each node, sppeding up transmission.

The thicker the diameter of the axon, the faster the transmission as there is less resistance to ion flow (impulse) through the axon, therefore speeding up the conduction. 

Increasing temperature also speeds up the transmission but it is not an adaption of the neurone itself

Answered by Brogan B. Biology tutor

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