Final answer:
An action potential triggers adjacent areas on a neuron's membrane to depolarize, leading to the propagation of the nerve impulse along the axon.
Step-by-step explanation:
Propagation of Action Potential along a Neuron
When an action potential is generated at one location on a neuron's cell membrane, it initiates a domino effect that triggers an action potential in the adjacent area of the nerve membrane. This occurs as the change in voltage and electric fields resulting from the action potential affects the permeability of the adjacent cell membrane. The adjacent membrane then depolarizes, which leads to the same process occurring in the subsequent segments of the membrane, a phenomenon referred to as the propagation of the action potential. This propagation allows the action potential to travel down the length of the axon as a nerve impulse, usually at a speed of about 1 meter per second.
The quick reversal of electric charge across the neuron's membrane, due to the influx of sodium ions and efflux of potassium ions, ripples down the axon as an electric current. When the action potential reaches the synaptic terminal of the neuron, it can lead to the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, further influencing adjacent cells, possibly triggering further action potentials.