PhysioEx Lab Report

Exercise 3: Neurophysiology of Nerve Impulses

Activity 9: The Action Potential: Putting It All Together
Name: Manivannan Sharumathi
Date: 25 August 2021
Session ID: session-357a9d49-916a-6b51-f87f-da2a0cc45690

Pre-lab Quiz Results

You scored 100% by answering 4 out of 4 questions correctly.

1 Sensory neurons respond to an appropriate sensory stimulus with a change in

membrane potential that is

You correctly answered: graded with the stimulus intensity.

2 If the depolarization that reaches the axon is large and suprathreshold, the result in
the axon is

You correctly answered: action potentials at higher frequency.

3 At the axon terminal, each action potential causes the release of neurotransmitter.
This neurotransmitter diffuses to the receiving end of an interneuron, where it
binds to receptors and causes

You correctly answered: ion channels to open, so that the receiving end of the
interneuron depolarizes.

4 Interneurons respond to chemical (neurotransmitter) stimulation with a change in

membrane potential that is

You correctly answered: graded with the stimulus intensity.

Experiment Results
Predict Questions

1 Predict Question 1: If you apply a very weak, subthreshold stimulus to the sensory
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 receptor

Your answer: action potentials will be generated at all four locations.

2 Predict Question 2: If you apply a moderate stimulus to the sensory receptor

Your answer: a small, depolarizing response will occur at R1 and R2, and action
potentials will occur at R3 and R4.

3 Predict Question 3: If you apply a strong stimulus to the sensory receptor

Your answer: action potentials will be generated at all 4 locations.

Stop & Think Questions

1 Observe the two neurons in the petri dish. What do you think is the resting
membrane potential at the receiving end of the sensory neuron (sensory receptor)
and the receiving end of the interneuron?

You correctly answered: -70 mV.

2 Why is there no response at R3 when you apply a very weak stimulus to the sensory
receptor?

You correctly answered: The very weak stimulus does not depolarize the axon of the
sensory neuron to threshold.

3 Why is there a larger, depolarizing response at R1 when you apply a moderate

intensity stimulus?

You correctly answered: The stimulus induces a graded receptor potential at R1.

Experiment Data
:
 Stimulus Sensory Sensory Sensory Interneuron Interneuron
Neuron Neuron AP Neuron Membrane AP
Membrane Frequency Vesicles Potential Frequency
Potential (Hz) in Axon Released (mV) (Hz) in Axon
(mV) (R2) from Axon Receiving (R4)
Receptor Terminal (S) End (R3)
(R1)
None -70 -70
Weak -60 0 0 -70 0
Moderate -40 16.6 4 -50 5
Strong -25 33.3 6 -40 10
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 Post-lab Quiz Results
You scored 100% by answering 5 out of 5 questions correctly.

1 What determines the amplitude of the depolarization at the sensory receptor (R1)?

You correctly answered: The strength of the stimulus applied to the sensory
receptor.

2 What determines the frequency of action potentials in the axon of the sensory
neuron (R2)?

You correctly answered: The amplitude of the depolarization at the sensory

receptor (R1).
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 3 Which of the following directly determines the amount of neurotransmitter released
at the axon terminal of the sensory neuron?

You correctly answered: The amount of calcium that enters the sensory receptor.

4 Which of the following directly or indirectly determines the amount of

neurotransmitter released at the axon terminal of the sensory neuron?

You correctly answered: All of the above play a role in determining the amount of
neurotransmitter released.

5 Which of the following directly or indirectly determines the frequency of action

potentials in the axon of the interneuron?

You correctly answered: All of the above play a role in determining the frequency of
action potentials in the axon of the interneuron.

Review Sheet Results

1 Why is the resting membrane potential the same value in both the sensory neuron
and the interneuron?

Your answer:

The resting membrane potential is the same value as because it is typical resting
membrane potential regardless of type of neuron.

2 Describe what happened when you applied a very weak stimulus to the sensory
receptor. How well did the results compare with your prediction?

Your answer:

A small depolarising response occurs at R1 but no where else therefore my option

was correct.

3 Describe what happened when you applied a moderate stimulus was to the sensory
receptor. How well did the results compare with your prediction?

Your answer:

When we applied moderate stimulus to the sensory receptors,a larger,depolarizing

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 response occurred at R1 and action potential was generated at R2 and R4.

4 Identify the type of membrane potential (graded receptor potential or action

potential) that occurred at R1, R2, R3, and R4 when you applied a moderate
stimulus (view Experiment Results to view the response to this stimulus).

Your answer:

A graded stimulus happened at R3 and R1 and an action potential occurred at R4

and R2.

5 Describe what happened when you applied a strong stimulus to the sensory
receptor. How well did the results compare with your prediction?

Your answer:

Applying a strong stimulus to the sensory receptors, a large, depolarizing response

occurs at R1 and R3 and action potential occurs at R2 and R4.
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