Transmission of Nerve

Impulses
WALT
Neurones transmit impulses as a series of
electrical signals
A neurone has a resting potential of 70 mV
Depolarisation causes an action potential to
be transmitted along the axon

Resting Potential
Experiments have been carried out using
Giant Squid axons
These are large enough to have
microelectodes inserted into then to
measure changes in electrical charge.
One electrode is inserted into the axon
and one is placed on the outside of the
cell membrane

Resting Potential
The difference between the two potential
charges is called the resting potential
The membrane of a neuron is negatively
charged internally with respect to outside
This generates a potential difference of
around - 50 - 90 mV (resting potential)

Resting Potential

Maintaining the Resting Potential

Cation pumps (Na pumps) maintain active
transport of K+ ions in and Na+ out of the
neurone
3 Na + ions are pumped out at the same
time 2 K+ ions are pumped in
This is done by the Sodium Potassium
ATPase pump

Sodium Potassium Pump

Diffusion back
Also within the membrane are channel
proteins that allow both Na+ and K+ ions to
diffuse back down their concentration
gradient
However there are many more K+
channels so K+ ions diffuse back much
faster than the Na+ ions
The net result is that the outside of the
axon is positively charged compared to
inside

An Action Potential
Action Potential
An action potential is produced when
membrane of neuron
stimulated, the
charge is reversed:
The inside of the axon was -70 mV and
this changes to +40 mV and membrane is
said to be depolarized

An Action Potential
A nerve impulse can be initiated by
mechanical, chemical, thermal or electrical
stimulation
Experiment show that when a small
electrical current is applied to the axon the
resting potential changes from 70 mV to
+ 40 mV
This change in potential is called the
action potential

An Action Potential
An Action Potential is produced due to a
sudden increase in the permeability of the
membrane to Na+:
Na+ ions rush into neuron through the Na+
channels to depolarize the membrane,
and then further increases its permeability
to Na+
This leads to greater influx & further
depolarization --- positive feedback

The Action Potential

The Na+ ions move into the axon causing
the charge to change to +40mV
This reversal of charge causes the action
potential

The Action Potential

When
inside
becomes
sufficiently
positively charged, permeability to Na+
ions start to decrease.
At the same time as Na+ begins to move
inward, K+ begins to move in the opposite
direction along a diffusion gradient slowly
until the membrane is repolarized.

An Action Potential
Within about 2 milliseconds, the same
portion of the membrane returns to resting
potential of -70 mV inside this is called
repolarisation
Provided the stimulus exceeds a certain
value (the threshold value), an action
potential results.

All or none response

Above the threshold value, the size of the
Action Potential ( A P ) remains constant,
regardless of the size of the stimulus
The size of the A P does not decrease as
it is transmitted along the neuron but
always remains the same

Progression of The impulse

When a nerve impulse reaches any point
on the axon an action potential is
generated.
Small local circuits exist at the leading
edge of the action potential.
Sodium ions move towards the negatively
charged regions.
This excites the next part of the axon and
so the action potential progresses

The Refractory Period

Absolute refractory period:
This lasts for about 1 msec during which no
impulses can be propagated however intense
the stimulus
Relative refractory period:
This lasts for about 5 msec during which new
impulses can only be generated if the stimulus is
more intense than the normal threshold

The refractory Period

The refractory period ensures that:
Impulses can flow in only one direction as
the region behind the impulse cannot be
depolarised
It limits the frequency at which successive
impulses can pass along an axon.