Action potential

First read the text before you click through the

animations.
 The resting membrane potential of a nerve cell is about -70mV. The Na + and K + -channels are closed.
The negatively charged anions in the cell are not depicted, Cl - ions are not depicted either.

Na+ Na+ Na+

Na +

K+
Na+ Na+ Na+
+50

+ + + + + + + + + +
extracellular
0
Membrane potential (mV)

- - - -50 - - - - - - -
intracellular K+ K
+

-100 K+ K+

K+
Na+
K+ K+
When
When
the atreshold
nerve cell
potential
receivesis exceeded,
a signal, some
almost
Na+all
-channels
Na +-channels
are opened.
are opened,
Due towhile
this there
the K+is-channels
a little Naremain
+
influx
closed.
into the
Nacell.
+
ions
When
will flow
the influx
with the
is high
concentration
enough theand
threshold
voltagepotential
gradientswill
intobethe
exceeded,
cell, causing
creating
a positive
a action
charge. At approximately +30mV the Na+ influx will potential.
stop, because the voltage gradient will be in balance
with the concentration gradient.
Na+ Na+ Na+
Na+

K+
Na+ Na+ Na+
+50

extracellular 0
Membrane potential (mV)
-50

intracellular K+ K+

-100 K+ K+

K+
Na+
K+ K+
 When the after
Directly cell reaches approximately
the inactivation of the +30mV, the Nathe
Na+-channels, +
-channels are temporarily
K+-channels inactivated.
will open. Because Dueistonow
the cell this no
Na cancharged
positively
+
flow into themV),
(+30 cell. the
When a new
K+-ions signal
will flowarrives during
with the thisand
voltage inactivation state,gradients
concentration it is not possible to
out off the
generate cell.
a newTheaction potential.
difference This istherefore
in charge called thewill
refractory
becomestate and again.
negative lasts about 1 ms.

Na+

K+
Na+ Na+
+50

extracellular 0
Membrane potential (mV)
-50

intracellular K+ K+

-100 K+ K+
Na+
Na
+

K+ Na+
Na
+

Na+ K+
K+
 The Na+-channels remain closed, but a +few K+-channels are still open, therefore, a few K+-ions can still leave
When the K -channels close and the Na -channels are no longer in an inactive state, the resting membrane
+
the cell. During this period the membrane potential becomes even lower that the normal resting
potential of -70 mV is restored.
membrane potential. This is called hyperpolarisation.

Na+
K+

K+
K +
Na+ Na+
+50
K+

extracellular
0
Membrane potential (mV)
-50
intracellular K+ K+

-100 K+
Na+
Na +

Na+
Na
+

Na+ K+
 The number of Na+- and K+-ions that pass through the membrane during an action potential is very low in
comparison with the remaining numbers of ions. To ensure the nerve cell function is restored, the Na + and
K+-ions need to be transported back. This is achieved by the Na +/K+-pump.
Na+
Na +
Na
+
Na+

K+
Na+
K+

K+

extracellular

intracellular

K+ Na+
K+

Na+
Na +

Na+

K+
 The Na+/K+-pump does not play a role in restoring the resting membrane potential!

Na+
Na +
Na+
Na+

K+
Na+
K+

K+

Na+
extracellular
Na+

Na+

intracellular

K+
K+

Na+

K+
The Na+/K+-pump is an active transport system, which requires the hydrolysis of ATP. This has been left out of
the figure.

Na+
Na +
Na
+
Na+ Na+

Na+
K+
Na+

Na+

K+
extracellular
K+

intracellular

K+
K+

Na+

K+