NERVE IMPULSE AND ACTION

POTENTIAL
Dr. (Mrs.) H. O. Jimoh-Abdulghaffaar
 OUTLINE
• NERVE IMPULSE
• ACTION POTENTIAL
– INTRODUCTION
– HISTORY
– GENERATION
– RECORDING
– STAGES
– IONIC BASIS
 NERVE IMPULSE
• A nerve impulse is the electrical message that
is transmitted down the axon of a neuron.

• Regenerated at points along the axon.

• The speed of nerve impulses: 1 m/s to

100m/s.
 NERVE IMPULSE CONT’D
• At rest, a neuron has a resting potential prior
to sending a nerve impulse.
• The membrane of a neuron maintains an
electrical gradient- difference between
electrical charge inside and outside the cell.
• This is known as electrical polarization- the
inside is slightly more negative than the
outside (about -70mV in neuron)
ACTION POTENTIAL
 INTRODUCTION
• Alteration in the resting membrane potential
of an excitable tissue membrane, leading to
transmission of impulse across it.
• Depolarization of the membrane of excitable
tissues above a threshold voltage resulting in a
spontaneous all or none response.
Fig 1: The Giant Squid Axon
Fig 2: Generation of Action Potential
 STAGES
1. Resting membrane potential
2. Depolarization
3. Repolarization
4. After-hyperpolarization
 Action Potentials
• An action potential occurs when there is a
reversal of the normal resting potential, going
from negative to positive - depolarization.
• Depolarization occurs when a stimulus causes the
voltage-gated Na+ channels to open, allowing Na+
to rapidly influx down its concentration gradient.
• The sudden in-rush of positive sodium ions
reverses the membrane potential for a few
milliseconds.
• Then the voltage-gated K+ channels open,
allowing K+ to rapidly efflux due to its
concentration gradient. This brings the
membrane back to negative inside and is called
 Resting stage
• RMP before action potential begins.
• Membrane is said to be polarized at this stage.
 Depolarization stage

• 3.Membrane suddenly becomes permeable to Na+…..

• This rapidly neutralizes the normal “polarized state” of –
70mV.
• In large nerve fibers, the great excess of Na+ causes the
membrane potential to actually overshoot beyond the zero
level.
• However, this doesn’t occur in smaller fibers.
• 2.Activated by the voltage-gated Na+ channel
• .1Stimulus causes membrane potential to be more
electropositive than the threshold potential.
 Repolarization stage
• Activated by the voltage-gated K+ channel.
• After being highly permeable to Na+, within
milliseconds, the membrane Na+ channels
begin to close and the K+ channels open more
than normal.
• There is rapid diffusion of K+ to the exterior.
• This helps to re-establish the normal RMP.
Afterhyperpolarization
Undershoot

Voltage minimum more negative the

resting voltage
 Ionic Basis of Action Potentials
1. At rest only K+
PNa>>PK leak channels
PK>>PNa PK>>PNa open, PK>>PNa
2. With stimulus,
ENa voltage-gated Na
channels open,
0 mV PNa>>PK
Na+ flows into
the cell carrying
positive charge
3. Delayed opening
of voltage-gated K
channels, PK>>PNa
-80 mV EK K+ flows out of
cell removing
positive charge
Time 
Sodium channels have 2
gates, a normal voltage
(activation) gate (which is
closed at rest) and an
inactivation gate (which is
open at rest). The rapid
opening of the voltage gate
lets Na+ rush in and
depolarizes the cell. This is
immediately followed by
closing of the inactivation
gate which stops the Na+
influx. At the same time the
K+ gate opens letting K+
efflux (repolarization).
 Action Potential

Overshoot
Rising phase or
depolarization
Falling phase or
0 mV Repolarization
Threshold Potential

-80 mV
Resting membrane Undershoot or after-
potential hyperpolarization
 Applied physiology

Local anaesthetic
- e.g. procaine ; inhibits impulses around an area of
application and hence prevents transmission of pain
impulses to the brain.