Transmission of Nerve Impulses
Transmission of Nerve Impulses
Transmission of Nerve Impulses
Impulses
WALT
Neurones transmit impulses as a series of
electrical signals
A neurone has a resting potential of 70 mV
Depolarisation causes an action potential to
be transmitted along the axon
Resting Potential
Experiments have been carried out using
Giant Squid axons
These are large enough to have
microelectodes inserted into then to
measure changes in electrical charge.
One electrode is inserted into the axon
and one is placed on the outside of the
cell membrane
Resting Potential
The difference between the two potential
charges is called the resting potential
The membrane of a neuron is negatively
charged internally with respect to outside
This generates a potential difference of
around - 50 - 90 mV (resting potential)
Resting Potential
Diffusion back
Also within the membrane are channel
proteins that allow both Na+ and K+ ions to
diffuse back down their concentration
gradient
However there are many more K+
channels so K+ ions diffuse back much
faster than the Na+ ions
The net result is that the outside of the
axon is positively charged compared to
inside
An Action Potential
Action Potential
An action potential is produced when
membrane of neuron
stimulated, the
charge is reversed:
The inside of the axon was -70 mV and
this changes to +40 mV and membrane is
said to be depolarized
An Action Potential
A nerve impulse can be initiated by
mechanical, chemical, thermal or electrical
stimulation
Experiment show that when a small
electrical current is applied to the axon the
resting potential changes from 70 mV to
+ 40 mV
This change in potential is called the
action potential
An Action Potential
An Action Potential is produced due to a
sudden increase in the permeability of the
membrane to Na+:
Na+ ions rush into neuron through the Na+
channels to depolarize the membrane,
and then further increases its permeability
to Na+
This leads to greater influx & further
depolarization --- positive feedback
An Action Potential
Within about 2 milliseconds, the same
portion of the membrane returns to resting
potential of -70 mV inside this is called
repolarisation
Provided the stimulus exceeds a certain
value (the threshold value), an action
potential results.