Chapter 19, Problem 92RPP

BIO Effect of electric current on human body Nerve impulses are initiated at the input end of a nerve cell, travel along a relatively long axon (cable), and then cause an effect at the output end of the cell—for example, the initiation of a muscle contraction in a muscle cell. The nerve impulse is initiated by a stimulus that lowers the potential difference from outside the cell to inside from its normal -70 mV to about -50mV.

A potential difference across two parts of the body (for example, the 120-V potential difference from a wall socket from one hand to the other or from the hands to the feet) can initiate an electric current in the body that stimulates nerve endings and triggers nerve signals that cause muscular contraction. Even worse, the current in the body can upset the rhythmic electrical operation of the heart. The heart muscles might be stimulated randomly in what is called ventricular fibrillation—a random contraction of the ventricles, which can be deadly. A rough guide to the effects of electric current on the body at different current levels is provided in Figure 19.39. Under dry conditions, human skin has high electrical resistance. Wet skin dramatically lowers the body’s resistance and makes electrocution more likely to occur.

When muscular contraction caused by electrical stimulation prevents a person from releasing contact with the potential difference sources, lower current can be extremely dangerous. For example, a 100-mA current for 3 s causes about the same effect as a 900-mA current for 0.03s. In which of these situations is the least electric charge transferred through the body?

a. 100mA for 3s

b. 900 mA for 0.03 s

c. Too little information to decide