Q. What will happen when two action potentials triggered simultaneously at each end of an axon meet in the middle of the axon?
K.A.: What would happen if two action potentials coming from opposite directions collide? Answer: Colliding action potentials cancel each other out because the refractory period of either spike prevents the continuation of an impulse in either direction.
Q. What happens if you try to stimulate the neuron right after the action potential reaches the end of the neuron?
Action potentials allows neurons to communicate with one another and with muscle cells. If you hit the stimulate button again immediately after the action potential has fired, you’ll notice that another action potential does not occur.
Table of Contents
- Q. What will happen when two action potentials triggered simultaneously at each end of an axon meet in the middle of the axon?
- Q. What happens if you try to stimulate the neuron right after the action potential reaches the end of the neuron?
- Q. What do you think would happen if you stimulated an axon in its middle rather than at the axon hillock?
- Q. Are postsynaptic potentials decremental?
- Q. Do sodium channels close before potassium channels open?
- Q. What is cardiac Syncytium?
- Q. How does a neuron transmit a nerve impulse?
- Q. What would happen if sodium and potassium channels open at the same time?
- Q. What would happen if the voltage gated sodium and potassium channels were further apart?
- Q. Why is there more sodium outside the cell?
Q. What do you think would happen if you stimulated an axon in its middle rather than at the axon hillock?
Michael Soso’s answer is correct. If you place an electrode in the middle of an axon and stimulate it, an action potential will propagate in both directions.
Q. Are postsynaptic potentials decremental?
Postsynaptic potentials are graded potentials, and should not be confused with action potentials although their function is to initiate or inhibit action potentials. They are caused by the presynaptic neuron releasing neurotransmitters from the terminal bouton at the end of an axon into the synaptic cleft.
Q. Do sodium channels close before potassium channels open?
As soon as potassium channels open, before that sodium channels close (repolarization).
Q. What is cardiac Syncytium?
The cardiac syncytium is a network of cardiomyocytes connected by intercalated discs that enable the rapid transmission of electrical impulses through the network, enabling the syncytium to act in a coordinated contraction of the myocardium.
Q. How does a neuron transmit a nerve impulse?
The place where the axon of one neuron meets the dendrite of another is called a synapse. Neurotransmitters travel across the synapse between the axon and the dendrite of the next neuron. Neurotransmitters bind to the membrane of the dendrite. The binding allows the nerve impulse to travel through the receiving neuron.
Q. What would happen if sodium and potassium channels open at the same time?
a. If the Na+ and K+ channels opened at the same time: – Positive ions would flow in and out of the cell simultaneously.
Q. What would happen if the voltage gated sodium and potassium channels were further apart?
It is unlikely the membrane would become depolarized because although Na+ is coming in, K+ would be leaving simultaneously (canceling each other out).
Q. Why is there more sodium outside the cell?
The sodium and chloride ion concentrations are lower inside the cell than outside, and the potassium concentration is greater inside the cell. These concentration differences for sodium and potassium are due to the action of a membrane active transport system which pumps sodium out of the cell and potassium into it.
