Understanding bioelectricity http://dev.emcelettronica.

com/print/51905

Your Electronics Open Source

(http://dev.emcelettronica.com)
Home > Blog > Marcelo David's blog > Contenuti

Understanding bioelectricity
By Marcelo David
Created 10/07/2008 - 17:44

Technology action potential cell membrane ECG ENG neuron

Bioelectricity is used by biological cells to store energy.

We can lift a finger due to bioelectricity, we can see thanks to it. Almost every action is done
due to the existence of bioelectricity. We are talking about electrical signals that are
generated and detected by our organs, muscles, brain, glands. These signals are as well
transmitted by our nerves. In this article an explanation of how all these parts work and
communicate will be given.

Our body is built with biological tissue. The tissue that can generate or detect bioelectrical
signals is called excitable tissue. Some examples of this tissue (and its cells) are: neurons
and muscular tissue. Neurons are responsible of transmitting the excitatory bioelectrical
signal to another neuron (forming nerves) or to a muscle tissue, gland or brain, while
muscular cells are responsible of muscular contraction and distension. Some specialized
cells generate bioelectric signals: optic receptors (eyes), muscular cells that transmit the
feeling of pain, etc.

The neuron

The neuron can be divided in three main parts: Dendrites, Soma, Axon. Dendrites are
prolongations of the soma in shape of trees (dendros in Greek) and they receive most of the
excitatory signals. The soma contains the nucleus of the cell and is where most of the
proteinic synthesis occurs. The Axon is a prolongation of the soma and is responsible of the
synapse (mechanism of transmit in the excitatory signal to another cell).

Most of vertebrates receive electrochemical stimulation in the soma or dendrites and transmit

1 din 5 09.10.2008 18:34

Understanding bioelectricity http://dev.emcelettronica.com/print/51905

it through the axon. This bioelectrical potential involves ionic movement through cell
membrane.

Ionic equilibrium and ionic currents

The first thing to bare in mind is that ionic concentration inside and outside the neuron is not
symmetric. This leads to a concentration gradient and furthermore electric gradient. This
means that there is an equilibrium voltage different than 0 V between the intra-cellular
medium and extra-cellular medium, for each kind of existing ion. There are four main ions
involved in this process: Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Chlorine (Cl) and Calcium (Ca). Each
of them has different permitivity (equivalent to conductance) through soma membrane and
different equilibrium potential. This leads to the existence of a global equilibrium potential that
is called Resting Potential. In most neurons the resting potential has a negative value of
about -70mV,
which by convention means that there is excess negative charge in the intra-cellular medium.
This value is obtained using the Nernst equation and Hodgkin-Katz-Goldman equation.

The existence of different equilibrium potentials (constant) and varying permitivities let us
model the neuron membrane as an electrical circuit as shown in the next picture. CM is the
capacitance of the neuron where the membrane is the dielectric.

Ion permitivity is held by the so-called ion channels which are specific for each Ion. These
channels open and close during the reception, generation and transmission of the excitatory
signal. The variation of these permitivities are modeled as variations in the conductances Gi.
Note that GL refferes to the parallel model for Chlorine and Calcium. As can be calculated,
this variations lead to variation in the equilibrium voltage and therefore transmembrane
potential changes. Here we have the origin of bioelectrical signals, which can be measured
with special electrodes.

The action potential

Action Potential is the name that identifies the excitatory signal. The reason it has this name
is simple: neurons basically are binary signals transmitters/generators. Action Potentials have
a specific waveform and can be considered as a logical '1'. When the membrane receives a
stimulus (electrical or chemical signal) that makes it rise the voltage more than +20 mV
(leaving the neuron at -50 mV), Action Potential is started. Action Potential has a ~+90 mV
peak-to-peak voltage and can be compared to a . This AP is transmitted through the Axon

2 din 5 09.10.2008 18:34

Understanding bioelectricity http://dev.emcelettronica.com/print/51905

(each part of the Axon membrane is excitated with the preceding AP voltage) and when
reaching the Axon terminal some chemical products are ejected (neurotransmitters) which
chemically stimulate the leading neuron starting the whole process in that neuron.

Bioelectric signals

All these signals sum through the body which is conductive and can be measured in the skin
of a patient. For example, if we connect an electrode above a muscle and another electrode
far enough in the body, we can be sensing the so-called Electromyography (myo=muscle).
We will be able to see in an oscilloscope how the signal changes when we contract the
muscle, extend it, etc. Two of the most interesting circuits one could build are: an ECG
(Electrocardiograph) and ENG (Electronystagmograph). The first one is the known medical
device that let us record the heart's activity. The ENG is a circuit that allow us trace the
movement of our eyes (nystagmus). This circuitry is not complex but very useful in lots of
applications.

ECG

The ECG is generated due to the muscular activity of the heart. These bioelectric signals sum
and generates a signal which wave is widely known. The ECG signal has a bandwidth of 150
Hz. With a lower cut-off frequency of 0.25 Hz in order to filter DC and respiration noise. ECG
signals in the skin are about 5 mV of amplitude. The following picture shows a typical ECG
acquisition circuit.

3 din 5 09.10.2008 18:34

Understanding bioelectricity http://dev.emcelettronica.com/print/51905

The right-leg circuit is intended to reduce common mode signals which can be generated due
to EMI, 110V AC coupling, etc. To avoid harmful electroshock, impedance to RL from
differential stage should me about M-Ohm. The rest is a simple instrumentation amplifier with
band pass filtering. Since we would like Vout to be around 5 V peak, the circuit should amplify
x1000. It is recommended that the differential stage would amplify x100 and the second stage
x10, in order to maximize SNR. For avoiding EMI, Faraday's cage would be advisable. Notice
that C1//R9 should equal C2//R10, R4=R5, R6>1 MOhm and R7=R8.

ENG

ENG voltages are about 10 mV. ENG's bandwidth is 0.05 Hz (to eliminate DC) to 5 Hz. The
amplifier used is again the same as ECG but for cut-off frequencies. The connection would
be: RA to right temple, LA to left temple and RL to the middle of the forehead. The following
figure shows a graph of ENG while moving the eyes like a sin wave.

Electroshock

Microshock = when the electroshock is done in the heart (i.e. through an intracardiac
catheter). If this current is greater than 10 uA. Fibrillation occurs.

Macroshock = when the electroshock is done between external parts of the body (i.e. hand to
hand). In order to avoid that more than 10 uA passes through the heart, macroshock currents
must not be greater than 10 mA.

This values are defined in IEC-60601-1. And should be respected always. When assuring
security in medical devices, several tests are held in order to ensure that currents will not
exceed these limits.

4 din 5 09.10.2008 18:34

Understanding bioelectricity http://dev.emcelettronica.com/print/51905

Electrical current that passes through muscles make them contract and this can turn
dangerous. In an electroshock, one can lose the capacity of breathing, moving, etc. But
electricity is also used for stimulation on muscles as in Functional Electric Stimulation,
defibrillator, etc. This will be discussed in a future article.

Trademarks

Source URL: http://dev.emcelettronica.com/understanding-bioelectricity

5 din 5 09.10.2008 18:34