Nerve and action Potentials

Irfan Idris
Physiology Department
Medical Faculty, UNHAS

Classification of Neurons and

Nerves

Supporting Cells
There are four types of supporting cells, called
neuroglial (or glial) cells, in the central nervous
system
oligodendrocytes, which form myelin sheaths
around axons of the CNS;
microglia, which migrate through the CNS and
phagocytose foreign and degenerated material
astrocytes, which help to regulate the external
environment of neurons in the CNS;
ependymal cells, which line the ventricles (cavities)
of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord

 There are two types of supporting cells in

the peripheral nervous system:
Schwann cells, which form myelin sheaths
around peripheral axons; and
Satellite cells, or ganglionic gliocytes,
which support neuron cells bodies within the
ganglia of the PNS.

Resting Membrane Potential

of Nerves
Active Transport of Sodium and Potassium
Ions Through the MembraneThe
Sodium-Potassium (Na+-K+)
Leakage of Potassium and Sodium
Through the Nerve Membrane

Origin of the Normal Resting

Membrane Potential
Contribution of the Potassium Diffusion
Potential : Because of the high ratio of
potassium ions inside to outside, 35:1, the
Nernst potential corresponding to this ratio is
94 millivolts Therefore, if potassium ionswere
the only factor causing the resting potential
Contribution of Sodium Diffusion Through
the Nerve Membrane : diffusion of sodium ions
through the K+-Na+ leak channels. The ratio of
sodium ions from inside to outside the
membrane is 0.1
Contribution of the Na+-K+ Pump

Nerve Action
Potential

Initiation of the Action Potential

A Positive-Feedback Vicious Cycle Opens the
Sodium Channels
if any event causes enough initial rise in the membrane potential
from 90 millivolts toward the zero level, the rising voltage itself
causes many voltage-gated sodium channels to begin opening.
This allows rapid inflow of sodium ions, which causes a further
rise in the membrane potential

Threshold for Initiation of the Action Potential

A sudden rise in membrane potential of 15 to 30 millivolts usually
is required. Therefore, a sudden increase in the membrane
potential in a large nerve fiber from 90 millivolts up to about 65
millivolts usually causes the explosive development of an action
potential. This level of 65 millivolts is said to be the threshold
for stimulation

TRANSMISI SINAPTIK
ELEKTRIK

Nerve fiber types in mammalian nerve.

Fiber Type

Function

Fiber
Diameter
(m)

Conduction
Velocity
(m/s)

Spike
Duration
(ms)

Absolute
Refractory
Period (ms)

0.4-0.5

0.4-1

Proprioception; somatic
motor

12-20

70-120

Touch, pressure

5-12

30-70

Motor to muscle
spindles

3-6

15-30

Pain, cold, touch

2-5

12-30

Preganglionic
autonomic

<3

3-15

1.2

1.2

B
C

Dorsal root

Pain, temperature,
some mechanoreception, reflex
responses

0.4-1.2

0.5-2

Sympathetic

Postganglionic
sympathetics

0.3-1.3

0.7-2.3

A and B fibers are myelinated; C fibers are unmyelinated.

Numerical classification sometimes used for sensory

neurons.
Number

Origin

Fiber Type

Ia

Muscle spindle, annulospinal ending.

Ib

Golgi tendon organ.

II

Muscle spindle, flower-spray ending; touch, pressure.

III

Pain and cold receptors; some touch receptors.

IV

Pain, temperature, and other receptors.

Dorsal root C