‫بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم‬

Excitable Tissues

Abu ahmed
2019
1
They are tissues when stimulated by
different form of energy (chemically,
mechanically, electrically) they
respond by producing action
potential .
 They are nerves and muscles.
 Muscles are Skeletal, Smooth &
cardiac muscle.
 Membrane potential
Definition: difference in voltage of
electrical charge between inside &out
side the cell membrane.
At rest the cell is polarized.
 Genesis of membrane potential
The magnitude of membrane
potential at any given time depend
upon the distribution of Na+ , K+ & Cl-
 Resting membrane potential(RMP)
Definition : is the potential difference in
which inside cell negative relative to out
side of the cell at rest .
Measure in millivolt(mv).
RMP is - 70 to - 90 mv
RMP in neuron about -70 mv.
RMP in cardiac muscle about -85 mv.
RMP in skeletal muscle about -90 mv.
The in side the cell is negative because of
the following :-
1. During rest the membrane more
permeable to K+ than Na+ (There
fore K+ is responsible for maintain
RMP).
2.Presence of nondiffusible an ions in
side cell (protein , sulphate &
phosphate).
3.Na+-K+ pump, that pump (3Na+: 2K+ )
this pump un equally lead to loss of
positive charge inside cell , that
increased negativity inside cell .
Resting membrane potential(RMP)
 Calculation of RMP
The RMP is calculate by Gold man
equation :
Effects of change in K+ & Na+ on RMP
Hyperkalemia (increase plasma K+ )
cause mark reduction on RMP.
Change in ECF Na+ concentration does
not significantly affect the RMP .
So the RMP depend on K+ only.
 Action potential
Definition: is a sudden reversal of
membrane polarity produced by adequate
stimulus (chemical, mechanical,
electrical).
AP occurs in living organism to produce
physiological effect such as:
1.Transmission of impulses along nerve
fibers
2. Release of chemical transmitters in
synapses.
3.Contraction of muscles.
4. Activation or inhibitions of glandular
secretion.
 Phases of action potential in skeletal
muscles & Nerves
Threshold: Is the membrane potential at
which occurrence of action potential is
begin.
threshold in most excitable cells is about
15mv less negative than RMP.
Depolarization: causes the cell interior
to become positive.
voltage-gated sodium channels open.
Depolarization due to influx of Na+.
Overshoot: Is that portion of action
potential when the membrane potential
is positive (cell interior positive).
Depolarization wave reach to + 20 to
+35mv.
Repolarization: At the end of
depolarization the membrane potential
repolarized to resting level as result of
two responses:-
Closure of voltage-gated Na+ channel.
Open of K+ channels (K+ efflux).
 So RMP due to K+ efflux.
Then the repolarization occur and
membrane potential brought back to (RMP)
Hyper polarization:- is process of making
the membrane potential more negative. due
to slow closure of K+ channels .
1 .Resting state
2 .Depolarization phase
3 .Repolarization phase
4 .Hyper polarization
Phases of action potential
Polarity Polarity
The normal resting negative +
membrane potential + +
Each action potential begins from
+
+ -
- - +
this polarity - - +
Depolarization
+
- - +
+ -
+
Result from removing of polarity
+ +
state of the cell Repolarization Depolarization
to reach into a positive potential
Repolarization - -+ -
Result from returning to polarity
- + + -
state of the cell (negative - + + -
potential) - +++ -
- - -
 Phases of action Potential
1. Resting Stage
(RMP)
2. Threshold
3. Depolarization
4. Overshoot
5. Repolarization
6. Hyperpolarization
Action Potential in cardiac muscle differs
from skeletal muscle and nerve .
It has plateau Phase due to ca++ influx.
The significance of plateau Phase prevent the
tetanization of cardiac muscle.
Action potential in cardiac
muscles
 Properties of AP
1. All-or-none law : action potentials either
happen completely, or not at all.
-Sub threshold fail to elicited AP
-Suprathreshold fail to make AP bigger.
2. Propagated potential not localized.
3. Has refractory period.
 Refractory Period
Is period during which another action potential can
not be elicited in an excitable cell.
Divided into:
1. Absolute refractory period
Corresponding to the period of time from
the threshold is reached until the
repolarization to about one-third complete.
During this period it is impossible to initiate
another action potential.
2. Relative Refractory period:
Begins at the end of absolute refractory
period and continuous until membrane
potential returns to the resting level .
During this period stronger than normal
stimuli can causes excitation.
Refractory period in skeletal muscles
Refractory period in cardiac muscle
 Propagation (conduction) of AP
AP propagated via:
1. Continuous conduction:
-It is slow conduction.
-Occurs in unmyelinated nerve fibers.
2.Saltatory conduction:
- It is fast conduction.
- Occurs in myelinated nerve fibers.
-Jumping of AP from a node of Ranvier to
another.
Propagation of AP in unmyelinated (slow)

Propagation of AP in myelinated (fast)

Saltatory conduction
Good Bye