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Action Potentials

Action Potentials

Action Potential

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

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...

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

Surface Tension
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...

Propagation of Action Potentials

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 Potential

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: Feb 15, 2026

Optical Mapping of Action Potentials and Calcium Transients in the Mouse Heart

Optical Mapping of Action Potentials and Calcium Transients in the Mouse Heart

Published on: September 13, 2011

Surface deformation during an action potential in pearled cells.

Matan Mussel^1,2, Christian Fillafer¹, Gal Ben-Porath³

¹Department of Physics, Technical University of Dortmund, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.

Physical Review. E

|January 20, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Excitable plant cells exhibit large, regular shape changes during action potentials, revealing a pearling instability mechanism. This study quanties the mechanical parameters governing these transient cellular deformations.

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Area of Science:

Cellular Biophysics
Plant Cell Biology

Background:

Action potentials in biological cells are linked to nanoscale surface deformations.
Rigid cell walls in plant cells, like Chara braunii, restrict underlying membrane deformations.
The precise mechanism behind action potential-induced mechanical pulses in plant cells remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the mechanism of mechanical pulses accompanying action potentials in Chara braunii cells.
To quantify cellular shape changes and identify underlying mechanical parameters.
To explore the role of pearling instability in action potential-induced deformations.

Main Methods:

Inducing pearling instability in Chara cells.
Exciting pearled cell fragments to observe shape changes.
Applying a curvature model with parameters for surface tension, bending rigidity, and pressure difference.
Extracting mechanical parameters via curve-fitting to experimental cellular shapes.

Main Results:

Chara cells exhibit pearling instability, leading to larger (10-100μm) and more regular shape changes upon excitation.
A curvature model successfully captures these transient cellular deformations.
Key mechanical parameters (surface tension, bending rigidity, pressure difference) were extracted for resting and excited states.

Conclusions:

Pearling instability is a key mechanism driving large cellular deformations during action potentials in Chara cells.
The study provides a method to quantify mechanical parameters associated with action potentials.
Understanding these mechanical changes is crucial for elucidating the biophysics of excitable cells.