action potential
Neural electrical spike
An action potential is a rapid electrical signal that travels along a nerve or muscle cell.
When a neuron fires, ions rush across the cell membrane, creating a brief voltage spike that propagates down the axon to trigger communication with other cells.
The action potential reached the synapse in milliseconds.
This all-or-nothing signal is the basic unit of neural transmission.
Impulse-conducting cell
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
- neurotransmitterSynaptic chemical messenger
- spikeSharp rise or point
Loss of electrical gradient
- repolarizationMembrane voltage reset
- hyperpolarizationExcessive membrane voltage negativity
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- sodiumEleventh element, highly reactive
potassium · ion · conductance · refractory period · overshoot · gating
Neuron's signal-sending projection
- conductionHeat transfer through contact
- myelinNerve fiber insulation
- nodes of RanvierGaps in nerve insulation
- unmyelinatedLacking nerve fiber coating
Brain's extension through vertebrae
- motor neuronNerve cell activating muscles
- interneuronNerve cell connecting others
- reflex arcNerve pathway for involuntary responses
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
patellar · withdrawal · afferent · efferent
Involuntary muscular jerk
- tetanusMuscle-stiffening bacterial disease
- pacemakerDevice regulating heartbeat
- calciumElement twenty, builds bones
- contractileAble to shrink or tighten
neuron
Impulse-conducting cell
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
- neurotransmitterSynaptic chemical messenger
spike · firing · Huxley · electrophysiology · oscillation
depolarization
Loss of electrical gradient
- repolarizationMembrane voltage reset
- hyperpolarizationExcessive membrane voltage negativity
- thresholdPoint of beginning
sodium · potassium · ion · conductance · refractory period · overshoot · gating
axon
Neuron's signal-sending projection
- conductionHeat transfer through contact
- myelinNerve fiber insulation
- nodes of RanvierGaps in nerve insulation
spinal cord
Brain's extension through vertebrae
- motor neuronNerve cell activating muscles
- interneuronNerve cell connecting others
- reflex arcNerve pathway for involuntary responses
knee-jerk · patellar · withdrawal · afferent · efferent
twitch
Involuntary muscular jerk
- nervous systembrain, neurons, nerves, spinal cord, axon
- neuroscienceneuron, MRI, brain, neurons, synapses
- physiologymetabolism, circulation, respiration, homeostasis, digestion
- brain activitybrain waves, brainwave, brain signal, alpha waves, beta waves
- brain functionscognition, attention, thinking, reasoning, learning
- electrophysiologyelectrodes, EEG, EMG, ECG, EKG
action, actor, acting, reaction, potential, activate, interaction, proactive, activated