Nerve signal transmission, also known as nerve conduction, is the process by which nerve cells (neurons) communicate with each other and with other cells in the body. This communication is essential for the transmission of sensory information, movement, and coordination of bodily functions.
The transmission of a nerve signal occurs through a series of steps, involving both electrical and chemical processes. Here's a brief overview of the process:
Resting Potential: When a neuron is at rest, it maintains an electrical potential across its cell membrane, known as the resting potential. This is mainly due to the unequal distribution of ions (charged particles) inside and outside the neuron.
Depolarization: When a stimulus, such as a sensory input, triggers the neuron, the cell membrane's permeability to sodiumions increases, leading to an influx of sodiumions into the neuron. This causes the inside of the cell to become more positively charged, leading to depolarization.
Synaptic Transmission: When the action potential reaches the end of the axon, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters from the presynaptic neuron into the synaptic cleft, which is the small gap between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons. The neurotransmitters then bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, initiating a new electrical signal or modulating the activity of the postsynaptic neuron.
Myelination: Myelin, a fatty substance that wraps around the axons of some neurons, acts as an insulating layer, speeding up the conduction of nerve signals.
By mastering the concepts and mechanisms of nerve signal transmission, you will gain a deeper understanding of how the nervous system functions and communicates information throughout the body.
Energy - A. Energy is involved in all physical and chemical processes. It is conserved, and can be transformed from one form to another and into work. At the atomic and nuclear levels energy is not continuous but exists in discrete amounts. Energy and mass are related through Einstein's equation E=mc 2 . B. The properties of atomic nuclei are responsible for energy-related phenomena such as radioactivity, fission and fusion. C. Changes in entropy and energy that accompany chemical reactions influence reaction paths. Chemical reactions result in the release or absorption of energy. D. The theory of electromagnetism explains that electricity and magnetism are closely related. Electric charges are the source of electric fields. Moving charges generate magnetic fields. E. Waves are the propagation of a disturbance. They transport energy and momentum but do not transport matter.
Relate temperature to the average molecular kinetic energy.