Some important terminologies related with nerve impulse Stimulus: A sudden change in external or internal environment of the body, which is capable of generation of nerve impulse, is known as stimulus, for example light, temperature, touch, chemicals, sound, ete, ‘Threshold stimulus: The strength of stimulus that is just enough to excite a neuron is called threshold stimulus, Sub-threshold stimulus: The stimulus having strength below the threshold stimulus is. called sub-threshold stimulus. Excitability: Ability of generation of nerve impulse in response to stimulus is known as excitability. Conduct xy: The transmission of nerve impulse from the site of origin ina particular direction along the length of nerve fibres. Refractory period: The time period taken by a neuron to regain is original resting stage after an excitation. Summatic yn: When a sub-threshold stimulus is continuously applied in a series for a sufficient number within recovery period, excitation occurs. This is called Summation. Allor none principle: It states that the response of a nerve fibre is always maximum. Nerve impulse: The excitation or action potential, which travels as a wave of depolarization along the length of nerve fibre is called nerve impulse. Extra cellular fluid (ECF): The fluid, in which nerve cells remain bathed, is called ECF. It is more electropositive than ICF and contains more Na* ions and fewer k* ions than that of ICP. Intra cellular fluid (ICF): It is called axoplasm. It is more Electronegative than ECF and contains Fewer Na’ ions and more k* ions Sodium-Potassium Exchange Pump: The process of expelling of Sodium ions and drawing of Potassium ions against the concentration gradient and electrochemical gradient across the axon membrane is called Sodium Potassium Pump. It expels out three sodium ions in exchange of two potassium ions. It helps in maintaining normal resting Potential across the axon membrane. +P ‘Sedum Potasslam Pump ‘eeracalr fs> Voltage gated sodium ion channel: It is cannel present in the axon membrane, which transports sodium ions from ECF to ICF across the axon membrane. It opens when stumulus is applied on nerve fibres. > Voltage gated potassium ion channel: Itis also found in axon membrane, which transports potassium ions from ICF to ECF. It opens when potential difference across the axon membrane reaches up to + 50 my. > Voltage gated calcium ion channel. Itis found in pre-synaptic membrane, which transports calcium ions from ECF to ICF of synaptic knob. Long-term, active transport Conduction of nerve impulse ‘The best illustration of transmission of nerve impulse is given by the Tonic Theory of Nerve Impulse. This theory states that the electrical events in the nerve fibre are regulated by the differential permeability of axon membrane to sodium and potassium ions. For a convenient study the process of transmission of nerve impulse can be under the following headings” A. Transmission of nerve impulse along the nerve fibre. B. Transmission of nerve impulse across the synapse> Transmission of nerve impulse along the nerve fibre Transmission of nerve impulse along the nerve fibre completes in the following three steps: Polarization (Resting potential) b.Depolarization (Action potential) c.Repolarization a, Polarization (Resting potential) > Itis the normal condition of nerve fibre, in which the nerve fibre is not conducting any impulses. > Itis unexcited state of nerve fibre. > Outer surface of axon membrane is positively charged while inner surface is negatively charged. > ECF contains more Na’ ions and fewer K ‘Na+ ions. > The potential difference of resting membrane or polarized membrane is resting potential, which is about — 90 mV. > The voltage gated sodium ion ct closed. > There is high tendency to movement of sodium and potassium ions along their concentration gradients, ns and ICF contains more K* ions and fewer annels and voltage gated potassium ion channels remain b, Depolarization (Action Potential) > When a stimulus having strength equal or above the threshold stimulus is applied to the nerve fibre it becomes excited and the polarity and Pd across the membrane reverse. This is called depolarization. > When a stimulus having sufficient strength is applied a nerve fibre it causes opening of voltage gated Na+ ions channels > More sodium ions enter the nerve fibre through these channels and the outer surface of ‘membrane becomes negatively charged and inner surface becomes positively charged. > The potential difference across the membrane suddenly increased up to + 50 mV. Now the Pd across the membrane is called Action potential. > The action potential travels along the length of nerve fibre as wave of depolarization, ¢. Repolarization > Ibis the process of achieving resting potential of membrane after it becomes depola > When the pd across the membrane reaches at the peak (+ 50 mV) the voltage gated sodium ions channels get closed and voltage gated potassium ion channels open. > More potassium ions leave the nerve fibre through these channels and resting potential is achieved. > The normal pd and polarity of membrane is regained by long-term active sodium- potassium pump. > Now the nerve fibre becomes ready for next excitation.Long-term ‘active transport 3 fms) Fig.: Summary of transmission of nerve impulse In myelinated neuron, the nerve impulse or wave of depolarization passes from one node of Ranvier to next in jumping manner along the entire length of neuron because the myelin sheath acts as insulator and ionic exchange cannot occur through it nodeof Myelin Fig.: Transmission of nerve impulse along the myelinated neuron( Saltatory conduction)C. Transmission of nerve impulse across the synapse Synapse: Synapse is the area between synaptic knob of axon of one neuron and dendrites of the next neuron. The thickened membrane of synaptic knob in synapse is called presynaptic membrane. The synaptic knob contains many mitochondria, ER, microfilaments, synaptic vesicles, etc. Synaptic vesicles contain neurotransmitter. Presynaptic membrane contains ‘many voltage gated calcium ion channels. The membrane of dendrite in synapse is called postsynaptic membrane. Postsynaptic membrane contains receptor proteins to which neurotransmitter get bound to transmit nerve impulse. The gap between pre and post synaptic membrane is called synaptic cleft. Process of transmission of nerve impulse across synapse: > When an impulse arrives presynaptic membrane voltage gated calcium ion channels ‘open and more calcium ions enter the synaptic knob through these channels. > Entry of calcium ions in to synaptic knob causes movement of movement of synaptic vesicles towards the presynaptic membrane. > Synaptic vessels fuse with presynaptic membrane releasing neurotransmitter into synaptic cleft. > Binding of neurotransmitter with receptor proteins of post synaptic membrane, It causes depolarization, and generates action potential in post synaptic membrane. > Binding of neurotransmitter with receptor protein molecules of post synaptic membrane causes depolarization and generate action potential in post synaptic membrane. ‘Thus nerve impulse transmits from one neuron to next. After depolarization in post synaptic membrane the neurotransmitter gets hydrolysed and reabsorbed in synaptic knob. Orange —> Ora msse