Saltatorikus

Saltatorikus, or saltatory in English, is an adjective derived from Latin meaning leaping or jumping. In biology and medicine it describes processes that occur in discrete steps rather than in a smooth, continuous flow.

Saltatory conduction refers to the rapid transmission of nerve impulses along myelinated axons. The axon is ensheathed by myelin, produced by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. Between the myelinated segments are gaps called nodes of Ranvier. When an action potential is generated, depolarization at a node creates a current that jumps to the next node, where the impulse is regenerated. This mechanism allows the signal to travel much faster than along unmyelinated fibers.

The advantages of saltatory conduction include increased conduction velocity and greater energy efficiency. Because many ion channels remain inactive during internodal regions, fewer ions must be pumped back across the membrane after each impulse, reducing metabolic cost. Conduction velocity increases with greater myelination and larger fiber diameter, and decreases with demyelination.

Clinical relevance centers on demyelinating diseases where saltatory conduction is impaired. Conditions such as multiple sclerosis disrupt the myelin sheath and nodes of Ranvier, slowing transmission and producing a range of neurological symptoms. Understanding saltatorikus in this context helps explain the functional impact of myelin loss on nerve signaling.