Membrane Potential and Action Potential Review

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions regarding membrane potential and action potentials.

Membrane potential

The voltage difference across a cell's membrane, which can change due to the transport of ions.

Depolarization

A change in membrane potential that makes it more positive.

Hyperpolarization

A change in membrane potential that makes it more negative.

Repolarization

The process of returning the membrane potential to resting level after a change.

Action potential

A rapid, large depolarization followed by repolarization that occurs in specialized cells like neurons and muscle cells.

Threshold

The minimum membrane potential that must be reached to trigger an action potential.

All or none law of action potential

An action potential occurs fully or not at all; it does not occur partially.

Continuous conduction

The propagation of action potentials along unmyelinated axons, occurring in a seamless manner.

Saltatory conduction

The jumping of action potentials between nodes of Ranvier along myelinated axons.

Synapse

A junction between two cells that allows them to communicate, often involving neurotransmitters.