How Does the Phospholipid Bilayer Support Nerve Signal Propagation?

💡 The Answer

• The bilayer acts as a capacitor, storing electrical charge across its thin hydrophobic core.
• Voltage-gated ion channels embedded in the bilayer change conformation in response to depolarization.
• Myelin sheaths wrap around axons with multiple bilayers, increasing resistance and speeding conduction.
• Without the insulating bilayer, saltatory conduction would be impossible and signals would fade rapidly.