Chapter 12.4, Problem 13BYGO

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

A slight change in the potential of resting membrane generated by a stimulus that opens the sodium gate in the nerve cell is called as the local potential. It occurs only when there is a high density of ion channels. The pathway of local potential begins at dendrite, spreads throughout the body of axon, then travels to the axonal trigger region, and reaches the synaptic knob. Local potential is useful for short distance communication of signal, strength becomes week with the distance. The three characteristics that are used to differentiate action and local potentials are explained below.