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12.4.1: Student Notebook Assignment

Anatomy and Physiology · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Read only the part listed below. Take notes and answer questions as described. Each note taking instruction should be done in your own words, in 1-2 sentences or bullet points, unless otherwise stated.

    12.4 Action Potential

    • Explain what it means for a cell membrane to be electrically active.
    • What maintains the membrane potential?
    • Why does the sodium-potassium pump need to use ATP to do its job?
    • What makes ion channels ion specific?
    • Describe a gated channel. Describe and give an example of each of the following types of gated channel:
      • Ligand-gated
      • Mechanically-gated
      • Voltage-gated
      • Leakage channel
    • Define membrane potential and explain how it can be measured.
    • Describe the ion distribution that maintains the resting membrane potential.
    • Define the following terms and explain the role that they play in an action potential:
      • Depolarization
      • Repolarization
    • How is the membrane like a battery?
    • Describe what happens in a neuron during an action potential. Include what happens to each of the following and why it is important:
      • Sodium channels
      • Potassium channels
      • Sodium ions
      • Potassium ions
    • What is the importance of having an inactivation gate and an activation gate? What would happen if one of these was not working?
    • Distinguish the absolute and relative refractory periods. What causes each of them?
    • Draw a graph of the membrane potential during an action potential. Label what is happening at each point in the graph.
    • How does an action potential at one point propagate down a neuron?
    • What prevents an action potential from moving in the opposite direction?
    • Distinguish between continuous conduction and saltatory conduction. What causes this difference?

    Watch: The YouTube video The Nervous System, Part 2 – Action! Potential!: Crash Course Anatomy & Physiology #9.

    • Describe what happens during an action potential.

    12.4.1: Student Notebook Assignment is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.