CONDUCTION OF

IMPULSE

Presented by:
Dr. ZARA BATOOL
INITIATION OF ACTION POTENTIAL

• Threshold for initiation:

 A.P needs initial rise in membrane potential that is great

enough to start the cycle.

This occurs when more Na+ ions move inside the fiber as
compared to K+ ions leaving the fiber.

A sudden rise of 15-30 mV is usually required.

For large nerve fibers -65mV is said to be the threshold for

stimulus.
 POSITIVE FEEDBACK CYCLE

• Any event that causes rise in membrane potential, causes many

voltage gated Na+ channels to begin opening.

• The rapid inflow of Na+ ions will further rise the membrane
potential, thus opening more channels.

• This is a positive feedback vicious cycle that continues until all

the voltage-gated Na channels have become activated.
 PROPAGATION OF ACTION POTENTIAL

• A.P elicited in any portion of nerve membrane usually excites

the adjacent portions of membrane resulting in propagation
of A.P along the membrane.

• This transmission of depolarization process along a nerve is

called “nerve impulse ”

• All or nothing principle.

DIRECTION OF PROPAGATION
RE-ESTABLISHING NA/K IONIC GRADIENTS

• After A.P it is necessary to re-establish the sodium

and potassium concentration differences.

• This is achieved by Na-K pump.

• This pump needs energy which comes from ATP

metabolism.
 SALTATORY CONDUCTION

• No ions can flow through thick myelin sheaths but

they can flow through the nodes of Ranvier.

• So the action potentials are conducted from node to

node, which is called saltatory conduction.
ADVANTAGES OF SALTATORY CONDUCTION

• Increases the velocity of nerve transmission in

myelinated fibers.

• Conserves energy for the axon because only nodes

depolarize.
REFRACTORY PERIOD

• The period during which a second action potential

cannot be elicited, even with a strong stimulus is
called absolute refractory period.
Mechanism:
o During the ascending limb of
the spike: the gates of the
voltage activated Na+ channels
are already opened. If a second
stimulus is applied, it can not
have any effect.

oDuring the early part of the

descending limb: the gates are
just closed & need a sufficient
period of repolarization to be re-
opened.
SYNAPSES
• A junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a
minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion
of a neurotransmitter.

• The synapse is where the nerve impulse passes

from one cell to the next
PARTS OF SYNAPSE

1. Presynaptic neuron

2. Synaptic cleft

3. Postsynaptic neuron
TYPES OF SYNAPSES

• Anatomical classification

• Functional classification
ANATOMICAL CLASSIFICATION

• Axodendritic
• Axosomatic
• Axoaxonic
• Dendrodendritic
• Dendrosomatic
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Chemical synapse

2. Electrical synapse

3. Conjoint synapse
SYNAPTIC CLEFT
• It is the small space between pre and post synaptic
neuron.
ACTIVITY AT THE SYNAPSE

1. Action potential travels down an axon and

depolarizes the pre-synaptic membrane.
2. This depolarization will cause the voltage-gated
Ca channels to open.
3. Entry of Ca will cause the vesicles containing
neurotransmitter to fuse with pre-synaptic
membrane and result in exocytosis of
neurotransmitter.
4. The neurotransmitter diffuses across cleft to
postsynaptic membrane.
5. The neurotransmitter molecules bind with specific
receptor sites on postsynaptic membrane.

6. The remaining NT is removed either by diffusion,

enzymatic destruction or active transport back into
presynaptic neuron
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION