Nerve Impulse Basics

Nerve Impulse Initiation

• Nerve impulses are initiated by a stimulus, which can be physical, chemical, or electrical.
• The stimulus causes a change in the permeability of the neuron's membrane, allowing ions to flow across the membrane.
• This flow of ions creates an electrical signal, which is the nerve impulse.

Nerve Impulse Function

• Nerve impulses carry information throughout the body.
• They transmit signals from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands, enabling movement, sensory perception, and other bodily functions.

Neuron's Role in Conduction

• The axon is the primary structure responsible for conducting nerve impulses.
• It is a long, slender projection that extends from the neuron's cell body.
• The nerve impulse travels down the axon as an electrical signal, from the cell body to the synapse.

Synapse Transmission

• The synapse is the junction between two neurons, where the nerve impulse is transmitted from one neuron to the next.
• When the nerve impulse reaches the synapse, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters.
• Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the next neuron, initiating a new impulse.

Myelin Sheath Role

• The myelin sheath is a fatty substance that surrounds the axon of some neurons.
• It acts as an insulator, preventing the electrical signal from leaking out.
• This insulation allows for faster and more efficient nerve impulse propagation.

Test your knowledge on the fundamentals of nerve impulses, including their initiation, main functions, and conduction. This quiz covers essential concepts such as the role of synapses and the myelin sheath in nerve transmission.