8 Questions
What is an action potential?
A sudden and fast change in resting membrane potential
Which cells are capable of generating an action potential?
Neurons and muscle cells
When is an action potential generated?
When a stimulus changes the membrane potential to the values of threshold potential
What are the three phases of an action potential?
Depolarization, overshoot, and repolarization
What is the refractory period?
The time after an action potential is generated, during which the excitable cell cannot produce another action potential
Where is an action potential generated and propagated?
In the body of the neuron and through its axon
What is a synapse?
A junction between the nerve cell and its target tissue
How is a nerve impulse transmitted from the axon ending to the target tissue?
By chemical substances called neurotransmitters (ligands)
Study Notes
Action Potential: Definition, Steps, Phases, Refractory Period, Propagation, and Synapse
- Action potential is a sudden, fast, transitory, and propagating change of the resting membrane potential.
- Only neurons and muscle cells are capable of generating an action potential; that property is called the excitability.
- An action potential is generated when a stimulus changes the membrane potential to the values of threshold potential.
- An action potential has three phases: depolarization, overshoot, and repolarization.
- An action potential propagates along the nerve fiber without decreasing or weakening of amplitude and length.
- After one action potential is generated, neurons become refractory to stimuli for a certain period of time in which they cannot generate another action potential.
- The refractory period is the time after an action potential is generated, during which the excitable cell cannot produce another action potential.
- An action potential is generated in the body of the neuron and propagated through its axon.
- The speed of propagation largely depends on the thickness of the axon and whether it’s myelinated or not.
- A synapse is a junction between the nerve cell and its target tissue.
- Synapses are chemical, meaning that the nerve impulse is transmitted from the axon ending to the target tissue by the chemical substances called neurotransmitters (ligands).
- Each synapse consists of the presynaptic membrane, postsynaptic membrane, and synaptic cleft.
Test your knowledge on the fascinating world of action potentials with this quiz! From the definition and steps of an action potential to its phases, refractory period, propagation, and synapse, this quiz covers it all. Challenge yourself to see how much you know about the electrical signals that allow neurons and muscle cells to communicate and function properly. Don't forget to include keywords like neurons, muscle cells, excitability, depolarization, repolarization, refractory period, synapse, neurotransmitters,
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