Question

Action potentials (nerve impulses) are changes in the membrane potential that, once started, will affect the entire excitable membrane. The first action potential is usually generated at the initial segment of the neuron's axon. This activity will test your understanding of the sequence of events that occur at the membrane of the initial segment of the axon during generation of an action potential.

a..Threshold stimulus
Na+ channels open

b..Na+ influx
Depolarization

c.Na+ channels close

d..K+ efflux
Repolarization

e.Hyperpolarization
K+ channels close

Answer 1

Action potential

Step-by-step explanation:

Brief sequential change in the membrane potential of excitable cells after stimulus is called action potential

Phases of action potential includes:

• Depolarization: Starts when a threshold stimulus applied on a neuron via Na+ mechanically operated channels that trigger action potential
• Depolarization of membrane potential is due to influx of Na+ via voltage gated Na+ channels
• Fast opening of voltage gated Na+ channels shift membrane potential from -70mV to +50mV at which voltage gated Na+ channels becomes inactive, thus influx of Na+ abruptly stops
• Repolarization: Starts with the efflux of K+ by the opening of voltage gated K+ channels
• Voltage gated K+ channels starts to open when voltage gated Na+ channels becomes inactive
• Hyperpolarization: Occurs due to excessive efflux of K+ by voltage gated K+ channels
• Additional efflux of K+ occurs due to slow inactivation of voltage gated K+ channels
• In a typical neuron cell, membrane potential of cytoplasm is negative (-70mV) at rest hence called resting membrane potential
• Resting membrane potential of excitable cells is established by Na+ K+ pump and maintained by K+ leaky channels at rest