KIN 270 Unit 2 Neural Physiology Part 2

KIN 270 Michael Gaetz Ph.D.
Open Stax Chapter 12

Fundamentals of the Nervous System and Nervous Tissue
Part 2
Figure: Generating a resting membrane potential depends on (1) differences in K  and

Na concentrations inside and outside cells, and (2) differences in permeability of the
plasma membrane to these ions
Generating the Resting Membrane Potential (cont.)

 Differences in plasma membrane permeability
 Impermeable to large anionic proteins
 Slightly permeable to Na+ (through leakage channels)
 Sodium diffuses into cell down concentration gradient
 25 times more permeable to K+ than sodium (more leakage channels)
 K+ diffuses out of cell down concentration gradient
 Quite permeable to Cl–
Generating the Resting Membrane Potential (cont.)

 Differences in plasma membrane permeability (cont.)
 More K+ diffuses out than Na+ diffuses in
 As a result, the inside of the cell is more negative
 Establishes a negative resting membrane potential
 Sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+ ATPase) stabilizes and maintains resting membrane
potential
 Maintains concentration gradients for Na+ and K+
 Three Na+ are pumped out of cell while two K+ are pumped back in
Figure: Generating a resting membrane potential depends on (1) differences in K  and

Na concentrations inside and outside cells, and (2) differences in permeability of the
plasma membrane to these ions
Changing the Resting Membrane Potential

 Membrane potential changes when:
 Concentrations of ions across membrane change
 Membrane permeability to ions changes
 Changes produce two types of signals
 Graded potentials
 Small incoming signals operating over short distances
 Action potentials
 Large long-distance signals of axons
 Changes in membrane potential are used as signals to receive, integrate, and send information
Changing the Resting Membrane Potential (cont.)

 Terms describing membrane potential change relative to resting membrane potential
 Depolarization: decrease in membrane potential (moves toward zero and above)
 Inside of membrane becomes less negative than the resting membrane potential
 Probability of producing an action potential increases
 Hyperpolarization: increase in membrane potential (away from zero)
 Inside of membrane becomes more negative than resting membrane potential
 Probability of producing impulse decreases
Figure: Depolarization and hyperpolarization of the membrane
12.5 Graded Potentials

 Brief localized changes in the membrane potential
 The stronger the stimulus, the more the voltage changes and the farther current flows
 Triggered by stimuli that open gated ion channels
 Results in depolarization or hyperpolarization
 Named according to location and function
 Receptor potential (generator potential): graded potentials in receptors of sensory neurons
 Postsynaptic potential: neuron graded potential
Figure: The spread and decay of a graded potential

Graded Potentials (cont.)
 Once a gated ion channel opens, depolarization spreads from one area of membrane to next
 Positive ions move to areas that are more negative and vice versa.
Graded Potentials (cont.)

 Current flows but dissipates quickly and decays
 Therefore, a single graded potential has an effect only over short distances
 Summation of graded potentials is required to initiate an action potential
*Voltage-gated ion channels have thresholds

 Graded potentials within a single neuron are caused by the firing of many pre-synaptic neurons that
all synapse with a single post-synaptic neuron
 This causes current within the post-synaptic cell to spread within the dendrites and cell body
towards the axon hillock.
*Graded potentials can cause action potentials

 A “trigger zone” is a location within a neuron where information is integrated
 In multipolar neurons, the axon hillock is the location of the trigger zone
 The trigger zone contains a large number of voltage-gated Na+ channels
 The voltage-gated Na+ channels have a “threshold” that when met, allows their activation gates to
open
 The threshold varies but typically is -55mV (in neurons with a -70mV resting potential).
12.4 The Action Potential

 Principal way neurons send signals to other cells
 Means of long-distance neural communication
 Occur only in muscle cells and axons of neurons
 Brief reversal of membrane potential with a change in voltage of ~100 mV
 Action potentials (APs) do not decay over distance (non-decremental)
 Involves opening of specific voltage-gated channels
Generating an Action Potential

 Four main steps:
• Resting state: All gated Na+ and K+
channels are closed
 Only leakage channels for Na+ and K+ are open
 Sodium potassium pumps maintain the resting membrane potential
 Each Na+ channel has two voltage-sensitive gates
 Activation gates: closed at rest; open with depolarization, allowing Na+ to
enter cell
 Inactivation gates: open at rest; block channel once it is open to prevent
more Na+ from entering cell
Generating an Action Potential (cont.)

 Each K+ channel has one voltage-sensitive gate
 Closed at rest
 Opens slowly with depolarization
Figure: The action potential (AP) is a brief change in membrane potential in a patch of
membrane that is depolarized by local currents

• Depolarization: Na+ channels open
 Depolarization occurs as positive graded potentials (due to the influx of Na+ through
ligand-gated ion channels) summate
 As a result, ICF becomes less negative
 At threshold (–55 to –50 mV), positive feedback causes opening of Na+ activation
gates within voltage-gated Na+ channels
 Results in large action potential spike
 Membrane polarity jumps to +30 mV
 At threshold, voltage-gated K+ channels are activated but slow to open (they open at
the peak of the AP)

• Repolarization: Na+ channel inactivation gates close
 Membrane permeability to Na+ declines to resting state
 AP spike stops rising
 Voltage-gated K+ channels are now open
 K+ exits cell down its electrochemical gradient

• Hyperpolarization: Some K+ channels
remain open, and Na+ channels reset
 Some K+ channels remain open, allowing excessive K+ efflux
 Inside of membrane becomes more negative than in resting state
 This causes hyperpolarization of the membrane (slight dip below resting voltage)
 Na+ channels also are resetting
A&P Flix™: Generation of an Action Potential

KIN 270 Unit 2 Neural Physiology Part 2

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KIN 270 Michael Gaetz Ph.D.

Open Stax Chapter 12

Figure: Generating a resting membrane potential depends on (1) differences in K  and

Generating the Resting Membrane Potential (cont.)

Generating the Resting Membrane Potential (cont.)

Figure: Generating a resting membrane potential depends on (1) differences in K  and

Changing the Resting Membrane Potential

Changing the Resting Membrane Potential (cont.)

Figure: Depolarization and hyperpolarization of the membrane

12.5 Graded Potentials

Figure: The spread and decay of a graded potential

Figure: The spread and decay of a graded potential

Graded Potentials (cont.)

Figure: The spread and decay of a graded potential

*Voltage-gated ion channels have thresholds

*Graded potentials can cause action potentials

12.4 The Action Potential

Generating an Action Potential

Generating an Action Potential (cont.)

Generating an Action Potential (cont.)

Generating an Action Potential (cont.)

Generating an Action Potential (cont.)

A&P Flix™: Generation of an Action Potential

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