48.3 Production of Action Potentials

Question 1

voltage gated ion channels

Answer 1

open and close in response to change in membrane potential

Question 2

if depolarization opens a voltage gated channel,

Answer 2

the flow of Na+ increases even more

• resulting in even more depolarization
• happens very fast triggering a massive change in membrane voltage (called an ACTION POTENTIAL)

Question 3

action potential

Answer 3

• the nerve impulses/ signals that carry information along an axon
• occurs when depolarization increases the membrane voltage to the threshold
• made from one thing triggering a massive change in membrane voltage

Question 4

threshold

Answer 4

the particular value of membrane voltage that causes an action potential
-from depolarization