OPPapers.com Essay Index >> Science >> Action Potential Propagation
We have many free term papers and essays on Action Potential Propagation. We also have a wide variety of research papers and book reports available to you for free. You can browse our collection of term papers or use our search engine.
Action Potential Propagation. Ions Involved in Action Potential Propagation Essay.
Nerve and muscle functions involve electrical conduction. ...
... Each point along the axon is then able to regenerate the action potential, this
is referred to as propagation of the action potential or salutatory conduction ...
... surfaces. Capacitance plays the most important role in the axon, and is involved
in action potential generation and propagation. The ...
... the node of Ranvier, plays an important part in the propagation of the ... the
environment(eg;Light,sound)into another form of energy(action potential)that can ...
... the neuron from undergoing an action potential or passing on ... network that is silent
at resting potential. ... for both the development and propagation of epileptic ...
Submitted by jarettrobart on October 24, 2005
Category: Science
Words: 421 | Pages: 2
Views: 547
Popularity Rank: 14,607
Average Member Grade: N/A (Add a Comment / Grade this Paper)
Ions Involved in Action Potential Propagation Essay.
Nerve and muscle functions involve electrical conduction. However, nerves and muscle are not like electrical wires. Nerve and muscle cells are poor conductors of classical electrical current flow; such current dies out within a few millimeters. Signal transport (Action Potentials), does travel from one end of a nerve to the other. There is no diminishment of the signal, independent of the length of the cell (unlike a wire), and energy is required in the energy transport process itself. Action potential would go from toe to brain in about 1 sec = 100 m.sec.. The resting membrane potential of a nerve (or any cell) is about -70 "millivolts". The minus means that it's negative on the inside and positive on the outside of the cell. Like a voltage can be measured by placing one electrode of a voltmeter inside a cell and the second electrode outside the cell.
Action potential is defined as, an explosive change in electrical activity. For example, a sudden change in the membrane potential. The action potential is the signal that is transported along a nerve or muscle cell. An action potential is induced by a stimulus. The stimulus is often an electrical change itself, but for some cells it can also be chemical like taste, drugs, smell, or "mechanical" (ex. touch, pressure, sound), light (vision), temperature (hot and cold receptors...)...
-The signal travels as a wave down the cell.
Action potentials are not extremely important in understanding a brain and nervous system, but they're also good in understanding senses, muscles, hormone function, and drug responses.
The membrane potential is caused by active transport along with some return 'leakage' of ions. The depolarization would happen if Na+ flows inward because of the diffusion gradient and ion gradient. Therefor the positive charge on the outside would drop. And Hyperpolarization is going to take place when the K+ does it...
You must Login to view the entire paper.
If you are not a member yet, Sign Up for free!