Purchase Solution

Description of an Action Potential

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Why is the term "action potential" used to describe a nerve impulse?

What is the role of sodium ions (Na+) and potassium ions (K+) in generating an action potential.

What is a "threshold"?

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

This solution describes the mechanisms of an action potential. It includes a diagram.

Solution Preview

1. First you need to understand the concept of membrane potential. All cells have an electrical charge different between the inside of the cell (cytoplasm) and the outside of the cell. This is caused because the membrane separates different concentrations of charged ions, so the inside of the cell has different ions than the outside of the cell. Certain excitable cells (like neurons) can undergo action potentials. An action potential is the change in electrical potential that occurs when a neuron fires. As you will see in question 2, the change in potential causes very distinct electrical changes in the ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Cellular Respiration

This quiz is a review for cellular respiration.

Comfort Measures For Labor

Are you ready to doula someone through labor?

Breastfeeding Basics

How much do you know about breastfeeding? Find out with this quiz!

BIOLOGY

Basics in biology

Basic Immunology Quiz

Intro to immuno quiz. Covers the basics of immunology and recognition of foreign substances by the body.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • ode of Ethics of Psychologists

    555050 Description of the code of ethics of psychologists A description of Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists: The 10-step ethical decision-making process. Describe an ethical dilemma you encountered or observed.

  • EIS and Natural Selection

    An analysis of the environmental impacts of each of the possible alternatives. An EIS allows the potential impact of an action to be known and discussed in advance, as well as be disclosed to the public.

  • Legalities of a Job Description

    To be clear, the job description for this newly created position must be taken seriously as it is truly an official written document that becomes part of an offer of employment as soon as one is made.

  • Muscle contraction detailed description

    Binding of acetylcholine to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. 4. Increased Na+ and K+ conductance in end-plate membrane. 5. Generation of end-plate potential. 6. Generation of action potential in muscle fibers. 7.

  • Muscle contraction

    2 An outline of the research techniques used in this study, including brief description of each technique.

  • Utilitarian principle, affirmative action, discrimination

    The description of the position is the basis of the hiring procedure. It is this document that informs all potential employees what will be anticipated from them as well as what is significant about their desired positions.

  • Human Resource Management

    Disciplinary action prevents accumulation of employee behavior with potential of turning into organizational threat. // I hope that the assistance provided by me is quite sufficient to address the queries.

  • Shoulder Joint and Muscle Contraction

    So now there is an action potential traveling across the membrane of the muscle cell.

  • Process from Action Potential to Release of Neurotransmitter

    The action that follows activation of a receptor site may be either depolarization (an excitatory post-synaptic potential) or hyperpolarization (an inhibitory post-synaptic potential).

View More Related Solutions