Chapter 15. The Action Potential
Published Online: 27 JAN 2004
DOI: 10.1002/047146158X.ch15
Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Book Title
Cell Biology: A Short Course, Second Edition
Additional Information
How to Cite
Bolsover, S. R., Hyams, J. S., Shephard, E. A., White, H. A. and Wiedemann, C. G. (2004) The Action Potential, in Cell Biology: A Short Course, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA. doi: 10.1002/047146158X.ch15
Publication History
- Published Online: 27 JAN 2004
- Published Print: 14 NOV 2003
ISBN Information
Print ISBN: 9780471263937
Online ISBN: 9780471461586
- Summary
- Chapter
Keywords:
- action potential;
- voltage-gated calcium channel;
- voltage-gated sodium channel;
- axon;
- saltatory conduction;
- myelin
Summary
The action potential is an explosive depolarization of the plasma membrane. It can be driven by the influx of calcium ions through voltage-gated calcium channels, as in the sea urchin egg, or sodium ions through voltage-gated sodium channels, as in human nerve cells. Action potentials travel rapidly along the long nerve cell processes called axons, especially if the axon is insulated by myelin. The amplitude of a signal is coded by the frequency of action potentials, all of which have the same amplitude.