Describe the two stages of the Action Potential. Include (i) the
names of the ion channels and whether they are active or passive,
(ii) which of these ion channels open during the first stage and
which open during the second stage, and the direction ions move,
and (iii) the value in mV reached during the two stages.
ACTION POTENTIAL (AP) ON A NEURON
1. For each of the following channels, indicate what
specifically opens it, what specifically closes it, and what goes
through (& in what direction) when it is open.
•Voltage-gated Na+ channel
•Voltage-gated K+ channel
2. What are leak channels? What purpose do they serve in
neurons?
ACTION POTENTIAL (AP) ON A NEURON
1. For
each of the following channels, indicate what specifically opens
it, what specifically closes it, and what goes through (& in
what direction) when it is open.
Voltage-gated
Na+ channel
Voltage-gated
K+ channel
2. What
are leak channels? What purpose do they serve in neurons?
Consider an ion for which there are only passive leakage
channels. If the membrane potential is farther from the ion’s
Nernst potential, the magnitude of the current associated with that
ion will be:
a. greater
b. smaller
c. the same
d. none of the above
And why?
Label a voltage-versus-time diagram of an action potential with the
ions involved in each phase, the direction of their movement across
the membrane, and the terms depolarize, repolarize, and
hyperpolarize.
What would happen to an Action Potential if voltage-gated
K+ channels were blocked?
A.
the Action Potential could not occur
B.
the Action Potential would not repolarize
C.
the height of the action potential would be reduced
D.
the undershoot (after-hyperpolarization) would not occur