Lecture 9- Action potentials Flashcards
what are graded potentials?
signals often communicated from one neuron to the next. also called postsynaptic potentials
normally a stimulus
how are graded potentials caused?
by the flow of ions through a few ion channels
are graded potentials depolarizing or hyperolarizing?
both!
what is depolarization and hyperpolarizing?
depolarizing: (+)
hyperpolarizing: (-)
what does it mean that graded potentials are passive?
they do not regenerate, they will gradually dissipate as they travel through a cell
unique features of graded potential? (4)
- there are small before threshold changes in membrane potential
- graded potentials are proportional to the size of the stimulus (lg stimulus = lg potential)
- can be added together to form a larger potential
- can be long lasting (mins to hrs)
how is a graded potential like a ripple on a pond?
when you throw a rock there are ripples that come from that rock that fade away
with a graded potential it moves outward from the source and degrades as it moves farther away, eventually degrades into nothing
why does a graded potential take so long?
due to the rippling effect it is more time consuming for the graded potential to get from one synapse to the axon hillock
why does the graded potential signal degrade?
cytoplasm has electrical resistance so allows potential to degrade over time
cell membrane is leaky to ions
what is an action potential?
wave of depolarization that actively propagates across neuronal membrane
is an action potential passive?
NO! its regenerative!
what does it mean that an action potential is regenerative and has a refractory period?
when the potential is done it can ignite again
what are two things an action potential requires?
membrane to be depolarized (+) past a threshold
voltage gated ion channels
can an action potential be summed?
NO
where is the site of action potential generation in neurons?
axon hillock
what are unique things about action potentials?
all or none (no semi- potentials)
large amplitude (100mV)
does an action potential depolarize or hyperpolarize?
ALWAYS depolarizing
what is the ionic basis of the action potential? 9 steps of an action potential
- resting membrane potential
- cell is depolarized by graded potential
- membrane depolarized to threshold (voltage gated Na+ channels open quickly, Na enters cell. voltage gated K+ channels begin to open, but slowly)
- rapid Na+ entry depolarizes cell
- Na+ channels inactivate and slower K+ channels fully open
- K+ leaves cell, membrane potential repolarizing
- K+ channels remain open and additional K+ leaves cell, hyperpolarizing it (afterhyperpolarization)
- voltage gated K+ channels close, less K+ leakes out of the cell. Na+ channels begin to recover
- cell returns to resting ion permeability and resting membrane potential. Na+ channels mostly recovered
what is absolute refractory?
new action potential CANNOT happen
what is relative refractory?
you can get a new action potential now but you have to stimulate the cell even more than you did the first time
what are the 3 patterns of action potentials?
single action potential
tonic action potential
bursting action potential
what is tonic action potential?
fire one after the other after the other
what is bursting action potential?
fires a couple AP, rests for a bit, fires a couple AP
is there just one version of Na+ channels?
no no no, theres like 80… each pattern of action potentials has a different Na+ channel