768 Section 10 t Nervous System
areas. Like this, depolarization travels throughout the
nerve fiber. Depolarization is followed by repolarization.
CONDUCTION THROUGH MYELINATED
NERVE FIBER – SALTATORY CONDUCTION
Saltatory conduction is the form of conduction of nerve
impulse in which, the impulse jumps from one node to
another. Conduction of impulse through a myelinated
nerve fiber is about 50 times faster than through a non-
myelinated fiber. It is because the action potential jumps
from one node to another node of Ranvier instead of
travelling through the entire nerve fiber (Fig. 136.3).
Mechanism of Saltatory Conduction
Myelin sheath is not permeable to ions. So, the entry of
sodium from extracellular fluid into nerve fiber occurs
only in the node of Ranvier, where the myelin sheath is
absent. It causes depolarization in the node and not in
FIGURE 136.2: Voltage clamping
the internode. Thus, depolarization occurs at successive
3. Feedback amplifier receives feedback inputs from
recording amplifier and current generator and
accordingly modifies the current signals that are
sent into the nerve fiber (Fig. 136.2).
Thus, by voltage clamping, it is possible to maintain
the constant membrane potential at a desired voltage.
Nerve Fibers Used for Voltage Clamping
Earlier, the voltage clamp tests were done on the giant
axon of the squid Loligo, whose size facilitates such
tests. Then the investigations were done on the neurons
of small mammals. Nowadays, the tests are done on the
human nerve fibers obtained from surgical procedures.
CONDUCTIVITY
Conductivity is the ability of nerve fibers to transmit
the impulse from the area of stimulation to the other
areas. Action potential is transmitted through the nerve
fiber as nerve impulse. Normally in the body, the action
potential is transmitted through the nerve fiber in only
one direction. However, in experimental conditions
when, the nerve is stimulated, the action potential
travels through the nerve fiber in either direction.
MECHANISM OF CONDUCTION
OF ACTION POTENTIAL FIGURE 136.3: Mode of conduction through nerve fibers
A. Non-myelinated nerve fiber: continuous conduction.
Depolarization occurs first at the site of stimulation in the B. Myelinated nerve fiber: saltatory conduction (impulse jumps
nerve fiber. It causes depolarization of the neighboring from node to node). AP = Action potential.
Chapter 136 t Properties of Nerve Fibers 769
nodes. So, the action potential jumps from one node to subliminal stimuli are applied within a short interval of
another. Hence, it is called saltatory conduction (saltare about 0.5 millisecond, the response is produced. It is
= jumping). because the subliminal stimuli are summed up together
to become strong enough to produce the response.
REFRACTORY PERIOD This phenomenon is known as summation.
Refractory period is the period at which the nerve does
ADAPTATION
not give any response to a stimulus.
While stimulating a nerve fiber continuously, the excit-
TYPES OF REFRACTORY PERIOD ability of the nerve fiber is greater in the beginning. Later
the response decreases slowly and finally the nerve fiber
Refractory period is of two types: does not show any response at all. This phenomenon
is known as adaptation or accommodation.
1. Absolute Refractory Period
Absolute refractory period is the period during which Cause for Adaptation
the nerve does not show any response at all, whatever When a nerve fiber is stimulated continuously, depolar-
may be the strength of stimulus. ization occurs continuously. Continuous depolariza-
tion inactivates the sodium pump and increases the
2. Relative Refractory Period efflux of potassium ions.
It is the period, during which the nerve fiber shows
response, if the strength of stimulus is increased to INFATIGABILITY
maximum. Nerve fiber cannot be fatigued, even if it is stimulated
Absolute refractory period corresponds to the continuously for a long time. The reason is that nerve
period from the time when firing level is reached till fiber can conduct only one action potential at a time.
the time when one third of repolarization is completed. At that time, it is completely refractory and does not
Relative refractory period extends through rest of the conduct another action potential.
repolarization period.
ALL-OR-NONE LAW
SUMMATION
All-or-none law states that when a nerve is stimulated
When one subliminal stimulus is applied, it does not by a stimulus it gives maximum response or does not
produce any response in the nerve fiber because, the give response at all. Refer Chapter 90 for more details
subliminal stimulus is very weak. However, if two or more on all-or-none law.
CHAPTER 18: PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE NERVE FIBERS O 147
Table 18.1: Erlanger and Gasser's classification
Fiber Type Function Fiber Conduction Spike Absolute
Diameter Velocity duration Refractory
f (µm) (mts/sec.) (Millisec.) Period
\.
(Millisec.)
Typical Ao. Proprioception, Somatic Motor 12-20 70-120 0.4--0.5 0.4-1
myelinated fibers Golgi tendon organs, touch
of spinal nerves A~ Touch, pressure and motor 5-12 30-70
(Motor and functions
sensory) Ay Motor to muscle spindles 3-6 15-30
A6 Pain, temperature, crude touch 2-5 12-30
(Myelinated B 'Preganglionic' autonomic nerve
efferent fibers <3 3-15 1.2 1.2
preganglionic)
(Unmyelinated) C
(i) (Dorsal Pain, touch, temperature and 0.4-1.2 0.5-2 2 2
root) conduct impulses generated by
cutaneous receptors
(ii) Sympathetic Postganglionic sympathetic 0.3-1.3 0.7- 2.3 2 2
nerve fibers
Table 18.2: Numerical classification for sensory neurons
Number Origin
la Muscle spindle, annulospiral ending Aa
lb Golgi tendon organ Ao.
II MuscJe spindle secondary ending, kinesthesia, touch, pressure A~
m Pain and temperature receptors; crude touch and pressure receptors A6
IV Pain touch, pressure, temperature Dorsal root 'C' fibers
Table 18.3: Physio-clinical classification
Susceptibility Most susceptible Intermediate Least susceptible
Sensitivity to 'Hypoxia' B A C
Sensitivity to 'Pressure' A B C
Sensitivity to 'Local Anaesthetics' C B A
Thus, electrical response increases proportionately part of a nerve and placing one of the external recording
until the stimulus is strong enough to excite aU electrode on it. (Fig. 18.1 and 18.2)
the axons in the nerve. Such a stimulus is called
1 stimulus. Cause of Compound Action potential
(iv) With 1111r ma i, "'' stimulus, no further increase A mixed nerve is made up of families of fibers with
in size of the potential change occurs. varying speed of conduction. Therefore,
(2) Appearance of multiple peaks in action potential is 1. When all the fibers are stimulated, the activity in fast
called compound action potential. conducting fibers arrives at the recording electrodes
sooner than the activity in slower fibers; and
COMPOUND ACTION POTENTIAL 2. The farther away from the stimulating electrodes the
It is an extracellular (biphasic) recording of action potential action potential is recorded, the greater is the separation
which is made 'monophasic' recording by injuring the between the fast and slow fiber peaks.
148 D UNIT III: NERVE MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY
5 In general, Group 'A' fibers make maximum
contribution to compound action potential and
group 'C' the least.
4
>
.§. 3
a Factors affecting compound action potential
Q)
"'C
l. Tt;pL of fib( r~ · None of the peripheral nerves show all
A
.€
Q.
the components because none contain all fiber types.
2
E
<( Therefore, the number and size of the peaks vary with
the types of the fibers in the particular nerve being
studied.
B
C 2. Stre11,;:;th of tin st1111ul11.~: The shape of the compound
0 action potential also depends upon the number and
100 200
Fig. 18.1 Compound action potential
300 400
j type of fibers stimulated by a given strength of the
stimulus.
A
Compound Action
_A potential
r1 \: / \/ \/
+ \I I / ' I
(,,..__.__.__ _ _,~..,f- - - 1D+-/- -_-_-_-_-_--NH.'--E--R--V--E--,.,.,..,- - - . )
X--E-
Stimulator Direction of impulse
"
Fig, 18.2 Compound action potential as recorded at various distances from the stimulating electrode
tM@hiiiH,ti
1. Draw a well labelled diagram of compound action potential. Mention the factors affecting it.
2. Mention properties of mixed nerves.
3. Give physio-clinical classification of nerve fibers. Add a note an its significance.
4. Differentiate between action potential and compound action potential.
HR·I
1. Greater the diameter of a given nerve fiber, greater is the:
(a) Speed of conduction (b) Spike duration
(c) Magnitude of spike (d) Both (a) and (c) are correct
2. The fiber which is the thickest in human nerve is:
(a) Touch (b) Pain (c) Temperature (d) Proprioception
3. The most susceptible nerve fiber to hypoxia is:
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) All are equally sensitive
4. Conduction in which type of nerve fibers is blocked maximally by pressure?
we ~A ~B (d) Sympathetic nerve
5. Which of the following nerve fibers is affected by local anaesthetics first?
(a) Parasympathetic (b) A (c) B (d) C
