What is an action potential
What is an action potential? To put it simply, it is a message that is sent down the nervous line. The message is written and is sent from the central nervous system. That message is addressed to muscles or glands. This essay will explain what happens before, during, and after an interneuron action potential. To accurately define an action potential, it is part of the incredible course of events that occur during the firing of a neuron. When a neuron is not firing signals, the interior of the neuron has a negative electrical charge that is parallel with the positive charge exterior of the cell. Ions, chemicals with too many or too few electrons per the number of protons thus making them positively or negatively charged, maintain the harmony of positive and negative charges. Calcium ions accommodate two positive charges. While Sodium and Potassium each embrace one positive charge. Chloride, on the other hand, contains a negative charge. When at rest, the cell membrane of the neuron allows specific ions to pass through it. However, at the same time the cell membrane inhibits or constricts the movement of other ions. In this state, Sodium and Calcium ions are unable to pass smoothly through the membrane. Potassium ions, on the other hand, are able to cross the membrane unmolested; all while the negatively charged ions are incapable of getting in. The cell must use active transport, uses energy to move a substance against the gradient, on ions in order to conserve the cell’s polarized status. The mechanism that does this is called the Sodium-ion pump. For every two Potassium ions that cross over the membrane, three Sodium ions are pumped out. The resting potential of the neuron cell refers to the contrast between the voltage inside and outside of the neuron. The resting potential of the common neuron is close to -70 millivolts, signifying that the interior of the cell is 70 millivolts less than the outside of the cell. During the action potential, when a