Pacinian corpuscle Flashcards
How does a pacinian corpuscle convert mechanical pressure into a nervous impulse
(5 steps)
1) In resting state, stretch - mediated sodium ion channels in the sensory neurone’s membrane are too narrow to allow sodium ions to pass through them.
- The neurone in the pacinian corpuscle is at it’s resting potential.
2) Pressure is applied to the pacinian corpuscle which causes the corpuscle to change shape.
- Causes the membrane surrounding it’s neurones to stretch.
3) Membrane stretches causing the sodium ion channels to widen.
- Sodium ions can now diffuse into the neurone
4) Influx of positively charged sodium ions depolarises the potential of the membrane which results in a generator potential
5) The generator potential creates an action potential which is passed along the sensory neurone
The action potential will then be transmitted along neurones to the CNS
