GE CLST 73A Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Apposition, Motor Neuron, Neuromuscular Junction
20 Oct 2016
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Passive current flow: depolarize the region in front of active region & gets us a threshold. Active current flow: when you open a gated-channel & current flows. Synaptic potential only flows and leak so they lose their amplitude. Ap is good for long distance communication because every membrane has voltage-gated channels which allows for a constant supply of voltage. Normally, passive current flow is very large so passive current does not leak out and is always enough to depolarize the next node. If you make the internodal region leaky, the passive current leaks and passive current will be less so it does not depolarize the next node. Notes: electrical: passive current before ap directly travels to postsynaptic (next) neuron/ no neurotransmitters released = pure electrical communication. Direct communication btwn neurons: heart (to ensure that all cells beat at the same time rather than allowing the cells to decide when to beat) Fast communication of electrical signals: allow synchronization.
