Summary The Electrical Nature of Nerves

The Electrical Nature of Nerves
Neurons use electrical signals, known as nerve impulses, to communicate with other
neurons, muscles, and glands.

Resting Membrane Potential
● In a resting neuron, the inside of the cell is negatively charged relative to the
outside.
● This charge separation across the membrane is called the resting membrane
potential and is around -70mV.
● The resting membrane potential provides the energy for generating a nerve
impulse.




Three main factors influence the membrane potential:
1. Large, negatively charged proteins inside the cell.
2. Channels in the membrane that allow potassium (K+) to diffuse out more
easily than sodium (Na+) can move in, making the inside of the cell more
negative.
3. The sodium-potassium pump, which uses ATP to transport three sodium
ions (Na+) out of the cell and two potassium ions (K+) into the cell, helping
maintain the resting membrane potential.

Action Potential
● Action potential is the electrical signal generated by neurons.
● Voltage-gated ion channels along the axon of neurons open and close in
response to local voltage changes.