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Action Potentials01:41

Action Potentials

Overview
Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation01:28

Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation

The action potential is a complex electrical event that occurs in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells. It consists of several distinct phases, each with specific characteristics.
Resting Phase:
In this phase, the cell's membrane is at its resting potential, typically around -70 millivolts (mV) for neurons. Inside the cell, there is a higher concentration of potassium ions (K+) and a lower concentration of sodium ions (Na+). Voltage-gated sodium channels are closed, and...
Propagation of Action Potentials01:23

Propagation of Action Potentials

The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
Cardiac Action Potential01:30

Cardiac Action Potential

Cardiac action potentials are essential for proper heart function, enabling the rhythmic contractions needed for adequate blood circulation. Nodal cells and Purkinje fibers, specialized for electrical conduction, generate these action potentials.
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Membrane Potentials, Synaptic Responses, Neuronal Circuitry, Neuromodulation and Muscle Histology Using the Crayfish: Student Laboratory Exercises
16:16

Membrane Potentials, Synaptic Responses, Neuronal Circuitry, Neuromodulation and Muscle Histology Using the Crayfish: Student Laboratory Exercises

Published on: January 18, 2011

Hodgkin and the action potential 1935-1952.

A F Huxley1

  • 1Trinity College, Cambridge CB2 1TQ, UK.

The Journal of Physiology
|January 5, 2002
PubMed
Summary

This note revisits the background of the seminal 1952 paper on voltage clamp experiments. It details the foundational work leading to key discoveries in nerve cell physiology.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • The 1952 paper by Hodgkin and Huxley, co-authored by Bernard Katz, represents a culmination of voltage clamp studies.
  • This work investigated the ionic mechanisms underlying action potential generation in nerve cells.

Discussion:

  • The authors discuss the experimental setup and theoretical framework developed for voltage clamp analysis.
  • The paper builds upon previous research to elucidate the dynamic changes in membrane permeability.

Key Insights:

  • The research established the quantitative relationship between membrane potential and ionic currents.
  • It provided a foundational model for understanding electrical excitability in neurons.

Outlook:

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  • The insights from this work continue to influence modern neuroscience and electrophysiology.
  • Further research can explore the molecular basis of the ion channels identified.