The document discusses the transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system. It explains the resting potential of neurons and how an action potential is generated when a neuron is stimulated. It describes the movement of ions across the neuron membrane during depolarization and repolarization. It also discusses how a myelin sheath insulates axons and enables faster signal propagation.
The document discusses the transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system. It explains the resting potential of neurons and how an action potential is generated when a neuron is stimulated. It describes the movement of ions across the neuron membrane during depolarization and repolarization. It also discusses how a myelin sheath insulates axons and enables faster signal propagation.
The document discusses the transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system. It explains the resting potential of neurons and how an action potential is generated when a neuron is stimulated. It describes the movement of ions across the neuron membrane during depolarization and repolarization. It also discusses how a myelin sheath insulates axons and enables faster signal propagation.
The document discusses the transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system. It explains the resting potential of neurons and how an action potential is generated when a neuron is stimulated. It describes the movement of ions across the neuron membrane during depolarization and repolarization. It also discusses how a myelin sheath insulates axons and enables faster signal propagation.
Transmission of Signals Across the surface or membrane of every neuron is an electrical potential (voltage) difference due to the presence of more negative ions on the inside of the membrane than on the outside. The neuron is said to be polarized.
This potential difference is called the resting
potential of the neuron.
When the neuron is stimulated, a large
momentary change in the resting potential occurs at the point of stimulation. Overview of a Nerve Impulse 1. Resting potential – neuron is not stimulated at threshold level 2. Action potential – neuron responds to stimulus, sends “message” along axon ** Potential = difference in charge (measured in volts)
3. The threshold potential level is the critical level to
which a membrane potential must be depolarized to initiate an action potential. Ions inside and Outside the cell Resting Potential Inactive neuron Inside cell membrane – more K+ ions Outside cell membrane – more Na+ ions Polarized cell membrane ◦ Inside cell membrane – negative charge ◦ Outside cell membrane – positive charge Cell membrane relatively impermeable to both ions Resting Potential Resting Potential : Is the potential difference between the inside and outside of the membrane of a nerve cell when the cell is not conducting an impulse (at rest ). The most common value is -70 mV, and the membrane is said to be polarized. Resting Potential Action Potential = Nerve Impulse Occurs in excitable membranes Critical level must be reached (“threshold”) before impulse is sent Lasts a few milliseconds Depolarization Stimulus causes adjacent Na+ ion channels to open along axon ◦ Na+ ions rush into cell (high → low concentration) Movement of Na+ ions reverses the charge of the membrane (depolarization): ◦ Inside cell membrane – positive charge ◦ Outside cell membrane – negative charge If threshold is reached, adjacent Na+ ion channels to open along axon Depolarization Repolarization K+ ion channels open ◦ K+ ions rush out of cell (high → low concentration) Restores polarization of cell membrane ◦ Inside cell membrane – negative charge ◦ Outside cell membrane – positive charge Ion distribution is different than at resting potential – can’t send another impulse yet ◦ Inside cell – low K+, high Na+ ◦ Outside cell – high K+, low Na+ Repolarization During the Resting Potential 1- There are channels in the membrane that can permit chemicals pass into and out. 2-Some chemicals pass through the membrane more freely than others. 3-sodium channels are closed and potassium channels are partly opened , so potassium flow slowly out of membrane. 4-the difference in charge between sodium, potassium and chloride keeps the nerve in dynamic equilibrium and ready for action potential. During the Action Potential 1- An action potential happens when some event happens that stimulates the nerve. 2-If stimulation is strong there will be sudden and massive depolarization and action potential occurs. 3-This occurs because the membrane suddenly opens the sodium channels and allow rapid flow of sodium. 4-At the peak of action potential , the inside is positively charged. 5- After the peak of action potential , potassium channels open and ions flow out.(Repolarization) 6- Voltage below the resting potential.(Hyperpolarization) 7-After action potential the nerve enters a Refractory period. During a refractory period the nerve resistant to producing an additional action potential. The speed of propagation of action potential
V=X/T The time is directly proportional to resistance and capacitance. T=R.C R is the resistance with in the core of membrane. C is the Capacitance across membrane. T=R.C ρX T= 2 .C m .2πrX 2πr X2 T=ρ.C m . r X V= T r r V=X. = ρ.C m .X 2 ρ.C m .X Conduction Speed ➢The rate at which propagation occurs is called conduction speed, and it determines how rapidly signaling can occur within the nervous system. ➢The conduction speed is influenced by two main factors: • The diameter of the axon and • The presence or absence of a myelin sheath.
➢ The diameter of the axon affects the conduction of
current through the axon because larger axons have lower Resistance to conduction, and therefore current flows through them more easily. ➢The second determinant of conduction speed is the presence or absence of a myelin sheath.
➢Two types of conduction can take place in an
axon: Leaping conduction, in which the myelin sheath is present, and continuous conduction.
➢ The myelin is an excellent insulator of electrical
charge. Thus, the flow of current is far more efficient in a myelinated axon, which causes leaping conduction to be significantly faster than continuous conduction. How dose myeline insulated an axon and increase it’s speed of propagation? To understand that we have to go back to some of the basic principle of electricity. Let’s first think of electrical current flowing down a bare copper wire that is going to a light bulb. Ideally the current flows directly down the wire and illuminates the light bulb. But if you touch the wire by a metal probe ,most of current might instead flow down the probe, a situation known as a short circuit.
However if the wire is encased in a material that is
poor conductor of electricity ,the current is insulated and unable to move from the copper wire to probe ,this prevents a short circuit. Now let’s apply this to axons. An unmyelinated axon most resemble the middle illustration.
The axon is very leaky ,so the current flows
easily from the axoplasm to the extracellular fluid ,just as current flowed easily from the copper wire to the metal probe . The strength of an electrical signal decreased as the ions that make up the current leak across the membrane ,so in an unmyelinated axon the current generated by the action potential dissipates over a short distance. For this reason the action potential must constantly be regenerated along the length of the axon .this requires the opening of voltage –gated ion channels which takes a time so propagation is much slower. A myelinated axon more closely resembles the wire in the final illustration . Myeline is very good insulator because it’s a poor conductor of electricity, so it prevents current from leaking out.
This means that the signal decreases very little in
strength as it travels .the action potential can then propagate with out having to be regenerated.
It’s not until the current reaches the node of ranvier
that it starts to dissipate and the action potential must be regenerated .this is why the action potential of leaping conduction can leap from node to node and why this type of propagation is so much faster than continuous conduction. •Find The Velocity Of Propagation For An Action Potential and The Time Required For It to 0.5m a myelinated Axon, r=2mm Cm=5x10-5 F Estimate the time constant for charging a 2 cm long myelinated axon assuming R=107 Ω , r=1μm and Cm=5*10-5 F/m2 Find the equilibrium potential at 37oC For Cl ions, If Cl Concentration outside the cell is 200 moles.m-3 and the concentration inside is 10 moles.m-3? Kb =1.38x 10-23 J/K, e =1.6x10-19 Coulomb
