Action Potential

Action Potential is an electrical impulse that occurs in a nerve or muscle cell and is the basis for the transmission of information in the nervous system. This process occurs due to a change in voltage on the cell membrane during the passage of a nerve impulse.

To understand the mechanism of occurrence of the Action Potential, it is necessary to consider the process of depolarization. Depolarization is a change in cell membrane potential in response to a stimulus, which can be either chemical or electrical. As a result of depolarization, some ions, such as sodium and potassium, begin to penetrate the cell membrane, causing a change in its potential.

When a certain threshold membrane potential is reached, an Action Potential occurs. At this moment, ion channels open, which allow sodium into the cell and potassium out. This leads to a sharp increase in membrane potential and the appearance of an electrical impulse.

After the occurrence of the Action Potential, the cell membrane potential is restored. This process is influenced by the presence of special pumps on the cell membrane that transport ions in the desired direction. Thanks to this, the cell membrane potential returns to its initial level.

Action potential is essential to the functioning of the nervous system. It allows information to be transmitted from one nerve cell to another and ensures a quick and accurate response to external stimuli. Pathologies associated with the emergence or transmission of the Action Potential can lead to disruption of the functioning of the nervous system and serious illnesses.

In conclusion, Action Potential is an important process underlying the functioning of the nervous system. It occurs due to changes in voltage on the cell membrane and ensures fast and accurate transmission of information in the nervous system. Understanding the mechanism by which Action Potential arises can help develop new treatments for neurological diseases and improve the quality of life of patients.

Action Potential is one of the key concepts in biology and physiology. This is a change in voltage on the membrane of a nerve or muscle cell that occurs when a nerve impulse passes through a neuron. This phenomenon was discovered in 1902 by German physicist and biologist Albert Burnett.

The action potential arises due to depolarization of the membrane, that is, a change in its electrical charge. When a nerve impulse passes, charged particles such as sodium and potassium ions begin to leak through the membrane. This leads to a decrease in the electrical charge on the membrane and an increase in its permeability to ions.

When an action potential reaches a certain level, it causes the neuron to excite, which leads to its activation and transmission of the nerve impulse further along the circuit. This allows the nervous system to respond to external stimuli and control our actions.

In addition, the action potential plays an important role in the functioning of the muscle cell. When a nerve impulse reaches a muscle, it causes its fibers to contract, allowing us to move, lift weights, and perform other activities.

Thus, the action potential is a key element of the nervous and muscular systems, which plays an important role in many physiological processes. Research on the action potential is still ongoing, and this allows scientists to better understand the mechanisms of the nervous system and develop new methods for treating various diseases.

**Action potential** is the **change in voltage inside the membrane** of a nerve or muscle **cell** that occurs in it when a **nerve impulse** passes through it. This phenomenon is due to the fact that during the action of pulses, a change in the structure of the cell membrane affects its permeability to positively charged ions. For substance “K”, the cell membrane, as a rule, allows ions with the lowest energy (that is, with the lowest electrical charge) to pass through, and for “Na” ions, on the contrary, with the highest energy. As the impulse passes through the cell, the membrane resistance decreases, and ions begin to penetrate into the cell, and then, from the other end, they are forced out.