TRANSMISSION OF

NERVE IMPULSE

ADITHYA. C
Assistant Professor,
Department of Psychology,
Nirmalagiri Arts & Science
Academy
(Note: Neuron at rest, action potential and its molecular basis, propagation of action
potential)

Nerves and nerve fibers are excitable and are capable of transmission of
messages as electrical impulses. Nerve impulses are electro- chemical excitation
waves passing along the membrane of stimulated neurons. Transmission of
neurons involves 3 fundamental process;

1. Maintenance of resting potential

2. Generation of action potential
3. Propagation of action potential
1) Maintenance of resting potential
➢ The plasma membrane of a neuron is electrically polarized, because one side
of it is positive charge and other side is electrically negative with respect to
each other. The potential difference existing across a nerve membrane is
known as membrane potential.
➢ Non stimulated neuron is known as resting neuron and a stimulated neuron
is called an active neuron.
➢ The membrane potential of a resting neuron is called resting potential and
that of an active neuron is called action potential.
➢ In resting potential, the membrane is electrically negative inside and positive
outside.
➢ But in action potential, the active part of the membrane is positive inside and
negative outside.
➢ Resting potential is a physico- chemical phenomenon established and maintained
by the differential distribution of Na+ and K+ ions across the axon membrane and
also by the selective permeability of the membrane to ions.
➢ The cytoplasm inside the membrane has more k+ ions than outside, and the
extracellular fluid has more Na+ than inside.
➢ This unequal distribution of Na+ and K+ ions or the electro- chemical gradient is
maintained by an active transport mechanism called Sodium- Potassium pump.
➢ By this mechanism Na+ is actively transported outwards and K+ inward. The
marked difference in the relative concentration of Na+ and K+ on the two sides of
the membrane creates a strong tendency for diffusion from higher to lower
concentration.
➢ Thus, K+ ions tend to diffuse outward and Na+ inward through the Sodium and
Potassium channels which are clusters of membrane protein.
➢ In the resting membrane potassium channel remaining open, while sodium
channels remains almost closed. So, the resting membrane is freely permeable to
K+, but impermeable or only very slightly permeable to Na+.
➢ As a result K+ diffuses out. But, most of the Na+ remain blocked outside.
➢ Thus + ions becomes more numerous outside than inside and a net negative charge
is produced inside.
➢ Apart from this large diffusible anions ( mainly proteins) trapped with in the cell
also contribute to the inside negatively and resting potential.
2 . Generation of Action potential
➢ When a resting neuron is stimulated, a series of electro- chemical changes take
place. This is called Action potential.
➢ At the stimulated point of the neuron, the Sodium- Potassium pump stops
functionally for a while, Sodium gates open and the membrane becomes freely
permeable to Na+. This increases in sodium conductance reverse the resting
potential.
➢ Thus, at the stimulated point the interior of the membrane become positive and
exterior negative. This reversal of the resting potential is known as
depolarisation.
➢ Depolarisation marks the beginning of the action potential and the generation of
nerve impulse.
➢ Depolarisation is momentary. Very short afterwards, the sodium- potassium pump
starts functioning and the membrane become impermeable to Na+, consequently,
Na+ conductance declines and K+ conductance increases, thus K+ ions diffuses out
➢ This regains the resting potential. Restoration of resting potential is called
repolarisation.
➢ Depolarisation and the subsequent repolarisation together constitute an action
potential.
➢ The very brief interval between depolarisation and repolarisation is called
refractory period.
3. Propagation of Action potential

➢ Transmission of nerve impulses involves the spreading of a wave of

depolarisation or action potential.
➢ The action potential initiated at the point, excites the next resting point.
➢ During this, a local electrical circuit is established between the depolarised and
resting area.
➢ Current flows inward from the resting area to the depolarised area and outward
from the depolarised area to the resting area.
➢ This outward current stimulates the next resting area.
➢ As a result, action potential shifted to that point. In this manner, the action
potential travels the whole length of the neuron.