Propagation of action

potential

Dr. Sally Safwat

► The nerve impulse is a wave of
depolarization immediately
followed by a wave of
repolarization, collectively called
an action potential, occurring on
the plasma membrane of a nerve
fiber.
Propagation or Conduction of Action Potential

➢ The action potential must be propagated in order to transfer

information from one place to another in the nervous system.
A) Continuous or Step by step Conduction
In unmyelinated nerve fibers

B) Saltatory or Jumping Conduction

In myelinated nerve fibers
Types Of Nerve Fibers

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 Propagation of Action Potential

Continuous Conduction Saltatory Conduction

Site Unmyelinated nerve fibers Myelinated fibers

velocity 0.5 -2.0 m/sec Up to 120 m/sec
Energy More energy consumption Less energy consumption (1% of
continuous conduction)

Mechanism Occur Step-by-step or sweeping i.e. Occurs by jumping of impulses from

continuous conduction node to node i.e. saltatory (jumping)
conduction

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Mechanism of continuous conduction:

1- Stimulation of the nerve fiber by an effective stimulus generation of an action potential at the
site of stimulation.

2- During the action potential, the stimulated area becomes depolarized (membrane potential
becomes +35m.v).

3- This creates a potential difference between the depolarized (active) area (+ 35 mv) and the
adjacent polarized (resting) area (- 70 m.v).

4- Because of this potential difference, local circuits of current flows between the two areas (in which
the charges move) causing the polarized (resting) area to become depolarized to the threshold level.

5- This generates an action potential at the resting area, which by turn becomes the stimulus for the
adjacent region & so on.
Mechanism of saltatory conduction:

1- Stimulation of the nerve fiber by an effective stimulus generation of an action potential at the
nearest node of Ranvier.

2- During the action potential, the nearest node becomes depolarized (membrane potential becomes
+35m.v).

3- This creates a potential difference between the depolarized (active) node (+ 35 mv) and the next
polarized (resting) node (- 70 m.v).

4- Because of this potential difference, local circuits of current flows between the two nodes (in which
the charges jump) causing the polarized (resting) node to become depolarized to the threshold level.

5- This generates an action potential at the resting node, which by turn becomes the stimulus for the
adjacent nodes & so on.
Continuous vs Saltatory conduction
Thank you