1.4(di) - Generation of a nerve impulse

Question 1

What is resting membrane potenital?

Answer 1

The state where there is no net flow of ions across the membrane

Question 2

How is a membrane potential created?

Answer 2

When there is a difference in electrical charge on two sides of the membrane

Question 3

What is action potential?

Answer 3

A wave of impulses of electrical excitation along a neuron’s plasma membrane

Question 4

what are neurotransmitter receptors?

Answer 4

Ligand gated ion channels on synapses

Question 5

Neurotransmitters binding to their receptors does what?

Answer 5

Changes their conformation, opening the channel and allowing Na+ ions through

Question 6

What is depolarisation?

Answer 6

it is a change to the resting membrane potential to a less negative value inside the cell

Question 7

What happens if the membrane is polarised beyond a threshold value?

Answer 7

The entry of positive ions will trigger the opening of the voltage gated sodium channels