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PhysioEx Exercise 3: Neurophysiology of Nerve Impulses

Bernabe, Keith Jeronn C., Buen, Nicole Blanche Q., Candel, Camille Keith D., Co, Tricia Mae M.

University of Santo Tomas

College of Science

Biology Department

Activity 1: The Resting Membrane Potential

Overview

There are three important signals in the nervous systems namely receptor potential, synaptic

potential and action potentials. The main focus of this activity is the resting potential. Resting membrane

potential is the potential difference between the intracellular and the extracellular through the membrane.

The resting membrane potential depends on the resting permeability of the membrane because it follows

the steady-state condition.

Objectives:

1. To define the term resting membrane potential.

2. To measure the resting membrane potential in different parts of neuron.

3. To determine how the resting membrane potential depends on the concentrations of potassium and

sodium.

4. To understand the ion conductances/ion channels involved in the resting membrane potential

Methodology:

Neurons

Contro High Na+ Low K+


- - 25 mMK+
5 mMK+ - 5 mMK+
- - 130 mMNa+
150 mMNa+ - 30 mMNa+
- Recorded - 120 mMTmA+
Micromanipulator -
Micromanipulator
Recorded
Controller Micromanipulator
Controller
Controller
- Position 1 (recorded)
- Position 2 (recorded) - Position 3 (recorded)
- Position 1 (recorded) - Position 1 (recorded)
- Position 3 (recorded)
- Position 1 (recorded) - Position 3 (recorded)
- Control - Position 4 (recorded)
Results:

Voltage (mV)
Control Cell body extracellular 0
Control Cell body intracellular -70
Control Axon extracellular 0
Control Axon intracellular -70
High K+ Axon intracellular -40
High K+ Axon extracellular 0
High K+ Cell body extracellular 0
High K+ Cell body intracellular -40
Low Na+ Cell body intracellular -72
Low Na+ Cell body extracellular 0
Low Na+ Axon extracellular 0
Low Na+ Axon intracellular -72
Discussion:

Na+ and K+ are one of the most important ions in neurons. The proteins called Na+/K+ pump

transports Na+ and K+ ions. It moves from higher concentration to lower concentration. Increase in

extracellular K+ changes the membrane potential to be less negative due to the K+ ions leaving behind a

net negative charge by diffusion thus, making the resting membrane potential less negative. The Na+

channels are closed that is why the extracellular Na+ has not changed the membrane potential in the resting

neuron because of the less leakage of Na+ channels than K+ channels. Na+ has low membrane

permeability due to the short Na+ leakage channels. It diffuses down its concentration gradient inward. The

cause of inward leakage would greatly destroy the membrane potential. The Na+ goes into the cell

membrane and the K+ goes outside the cell membrane thus making the cell membrane more negative on

the inside rather than on the outside. The resting period potential is the distinction between intracellular and

extracellular across the membrane. It depends on intracellular and extracellular concentrations and on

which the membrane is permeable to.

Activity 2: Receptor Potential

Overview

When the sensory neuron are stimulated by the stimulus it can generate an impulse called receptor

potential by the help of sensory receptor that can be located at the end of the sensory neuron that contains

receptor proteins. The energy of the stimulus conducted can be converted into electrical response that
includes the cooperation of the membrane ion channels. The process involves in this conversion is called

sensory transduction that happens also at the end of the sensory neuron. Depolarization occurs when there

is change from negative resting potential to a lesser negative level causing the membrane to be less

polarized.

Objectives

1. To define the terms sensory receptor, receptor potential, sensory transduction, stimulus modality,

and depolarization.

2. To determine the adequate stimulus for different sensory receptors.

3. To demonstrate the receptor potential amplitude increases with stimulus intensity.

Methodology:

Sensory
Sensory
Receptor
Receptor

Modality
Modality

Intensity
Intensity

Amplitude
Amplitude
Response
Response

Results:

Resting Potential Peak Value of Response Amplitude of


Receptor Modality Intensity
(mv) (mv) Response (mv)

Pacinian corpuscle --- --- -70 -70 0


Pacinian corpuscle Pressure Low -70 -60 10

Pacinian corpuscle Pressure Moderate -70 -45 25

Pacinian corpuscle Pressure High -70 -30 40

Pacinian corpuscle Chemical Low -70 -70 0

Pacinian corpuscle Chemical Moderate -70 -70 0

Pacinian corpuscle Chemical High -70 -70 0

Pacinian corpuscle Heat Low -70 -70 0

Pacinian corpuscle Heat Moderate -70 -70 0

Pacinian corpuscle Heat High -70 -70 0

Pacinian corpuscle Light Low -70 -70 0

Pacinian corpuscle Light Moderate -70 -70 0

Pacinian corpuscle Light High -70 -70 0

Olfactory receptor --- --- -70 -70 0

Olfactory receptor Pressure Low -70 -70 0

Olfactory receptor Pressure Moderate -70 -70 0


Olfactory receptor Pressure High -70 -70 0

Olfactory receptor Chemical Low -70 -64 6

Olfactory receptor Chemical Moderate -70 -58 12

Olfactory receptor Chemical High -70 -45 25

Olfactory receptor Heat Low -70 -70 0

Olfactory receptor Heat Moderate -70 -70 0

Olfactory receptor Heat High -70 -70 0

Olfactory receptor Light Low -70 -70 0

Resting Potential Peak Value of Amplitude of


Receptor Modality Intensity
(mv) Response (mv) Response (mv)

Olfactory receptor Light Moderate -70 -70 0

Olfactory receptor Light High -70 -70 0

Free nerve ending --- --- -70 -70 0

Free nerve ending Pressure Low -70 -70 0

Free nerve ending Pressure Moderate -70 -70 0

Free nerve ending Pressure High -70 -65 5

Free nerve ending Chemical Low -70 -70 0

Free nerve ending Chemical Moderate -70 -70 0

Free nerve ending Chemical High -70 -70 0


Free nerve ending Heat Low -70 -60 10

Free nerve ending Heat Moderate -70 -40 30

Free nerve ending Heat High -70 -20 50

Free nerve ending Light Low -70 -70 0

Free nerve ending Light Moderate -70 -70 0

Free nerve ending Light High -70 -70 0

Discussion:

The sensory neurons used are Pacinian corpuscle, olfactory receptor and free nerve ending. These

sensory neurons were stimulated to several stimulus modalities and paired with intensity. The modality,

which consists of pressure, chemical, heat and light. The intensity of the stimulus were low, moderate and

high. The sensory neurons were subject to different modality and intensity. As for the Pacinian corpuscle

obtain the highest peak of value that is -30 and an amplitude response of 40 in pressure at intensity of high.

In the olfactory receptor obtain its highest peak of value that is -45 and an amplitude response of -20 in

chemical at intensity of high. The free nerve endings responded to different modalities as shown in the

results due to the less specialized sensory end. All the sensory neuron is set to have the resting potential of

-70.

Activity 3: The Action Potential: Threshold

Overview:

Nerve are consists of axons. The action potential conducts signal from axons, axons are thought to

be long and thin. Axon hillock is the point where the cell body and the axon are connected. The junction

between initial segment and axon hillock is where the action potential is first initiated it is also called the

trigger zone. When the action potential is triggered it will then be conducted down to the axon. The

stronger the action potential initiated the longer it will travel through the cell body to the axon.
Objectives

1. To define the terms action potential, nerve, axon hillock, trigger zone, and threshold.

2. To predict how an increase in extracellular K+ could trigger an action potential.

Methodology:

Neuron
Neuron

stimulus of 10
stimulus of 10
volts
volts

stimulus
stimulus of
of 20
20
volts
volts

stimulus
stimulus of 30
of 30
volts
volts

stimulus
stimulus of
of 40
40 volts
volts

stimulus
stimulus of 50
of 50
volts
volts

Action Potential
Action Potential

Results:

Stimulus Voltage (mV) Peak Value at R1 (V) Peak Value at R2 (V) Action Potential
10 0 0 No
20 100 100 Yes
30 100 100 Yes
40 100 100 Yes
50 100 100 Yes
Discussion:

Distinct membrane proteins provide basis for the threshold differences are found on each region of

the neuron. The influx of sodium regenerates the action potential, which establishes local currents that

depolarize difference adjacent sections of the membrane threshold. Adjacent sections of the membrane are

where the action potential must be regenerated. The action potential is not graded rather it is an all-or-none.

Therefore, the peak value of the action potential does not change.

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