Unmyelinated axons
Grey matter
Unmyelinated axons are nerve fibers that lack myelin sheaths, which are fatty insulators that surround some axons to speed up the transmission of nerve impulses. Unmyelinated axons are found in the peripheral nervous system, where they form part of the autonomic nervous system, the sensory system, and the motor system.
The primary function of unmyelinated axons is to conduct nerve impulses from the peripheral tissues to the central nervous system and vice versa. These nerve impulses are the electrochemical signals that carry information from the sensory receptors to the spinal cord and the brain, and from the brain and spinal cord to the effectors (muscles and glands) that respond to the stimuli.
Despite their lack of myelin sheaths, unmyelinated axons still have a sophisticated mechanism for transmitting nerve impulses, known as saltatory conduction. This process involves depolarization and repolarization of the axonal membrane, which causes the nerve impulse to jump from one node of Ranvier (a gap in the myelin sheath) to the next, thus increasing the speed of conduction.
Finally, it’s worth noting that unmyelinated fibers are generally slower than myelinated fibers, which means they are better suited to conveying low-intensity, continuous signals such as pain, temperature, and pressure, rather than rapidly changing or high-intensity signals.
More Answers:
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Axon Terminals and Their Vital Role in Neural Signaling and Health