Nodes of Ranvier (/ˌrɑːnviˈeɪ/ RAHN-vee-AY, /ˈrɑːnvieɪ/ -⁠ay),[1] also known as myelin-sheath gaps, occur along a myelinated axon where the axolemma is exposed to the extracellular space. Nodes of Ranvier are uninsulated and highly enriched in ion channels, allowing them to participate in the exchange of ions required to regenerate the action potential. Nerve conduction in myelinated axons is referred to as saltatory conduction (from the Latin saltare "to hop or to leap") due to the manner in which the action potential seems to "jump" from one node to the next along the axon.