A demyelinating disease slows action potential propagation along a neuron. Which effect dominates as the internodal distance increases in these neurons?

💡 Explanation

As internodal distance increases with demyelination, the action potential decays more before reaching the next node because the myelin sheath, normally providing insulation, is damaged. Therefore, temporal summation failure risk increases, rather than enhanced signal propagation, because signal strength diminishes below the threshold required for triggering an action potential.

• If an elderly individual experiences increased oxidative stress in their skeletal muscle cells due to reduced antioxidant enzyme activity, which consequence is most likely?
• Why does reading small text in low light induce eye strain more rapidly in individuals with early presbyopia?
• If a patient consistently excretes highly concentrated urine with elevated calcium and oxalate levels, but does *not* develop kidney stones, which mechanism is most likely protecting them?
• If a patient shows very low reticulocyte count alongside anemia after kidney damage reduces erythropoietin production, which consequence follows regarding iron recycling?
• If a patient exhibits fragmented sleep with frequent arousals due to heightened sympathetic nervous system activity from anxiety, which consequence follows?
• Which process is responsible for decreasing serum calcium when calcium intake greatly exceeds renal excretion capacity?