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In terms of the nervous system, yes.
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Is an action potential is a phenomenon that either happens completely or doesn't happen at all?
The action potential is an all-or-none phenomenon.
An action potential either fires completely or not at all. this is know as?
"all-or-none principle." In this principle, once the threshold for firing an action potential is reached, it will occur at full strength regardless of the strength of the stimulus that triggered it.
Explain what the ap is an all or none?
it depends on the stimulation. if the stimulation is not strong enough, there might be no action potential. However, if the stimulation is strong enough, there will be an action potential
What principle states that the properties of the action potential are independent of the relative strength of the depolarizing stimulus?
the all-or-none principle
What is the difference between a compound action potential and a single action potential?
Single action potentials follow the "all or none" rule. That is, if a stimulus is strong enough to depolarize the membrane of the neuron to threshold (~55mV), then an action potential will be fired. Each stimulus that reaches threshold will produce an action potential that is equal in magnitude to every other action potential for the neuron. Compound action potentials do not exhibit this property since they are a bundle of neurons and have different magnitudes of AP's. Thus compound action potentials are graded. That is, the greater the stimulus, the greater the action potential.
Is an action spike an impulse created by an excitable membrane when it reaches the threshold?
Yes, during th rising phase of an action potential you will see the spike which is representative of the threshold (all or none) occuring.
What is the estimated length of refractory period for pyramidal neuron compared to length of action potential?
Their is none
How are human smooth muscle cells similar to human nerve cells?
All muscle cells and nerve cells use an action potential and also obey the all-or-none law
According to the all or none principle what would happen if a cell were depolarized twice the normal amount needed to produce an action potential?
The strength of the an action potential would increase. This would happen because it would need twice as much energy before being produced.
How does the end plate potential differ from a EPSP on a post synaptic cell?
End plate potential is the change in potential from neurotransmitters. It can be excitatory or inhibitory. If the action potential wants to continue, it will be excitatory and vice versa. It can be additive, if more action potentials are fired it will increase the end plate potential. An action potential is an all or none response. It will either proceed or it will not proceed depending on the terms of the threshold. It cannot be additive, because there is an absolute refractory period where no additional action potentials can be fired.
Graded potential are they all or none?
graded potential are by definition VARIABLE in strength, and therefore NOT all or none. They start out at their strongest strength, and degrade (become weaker) as they progress further along.
Why are action potentials said to be all or none?
All or nothing response of an action potential (AP), refers simply to the fact that an AP will either occur, or not. There is no gradient, no half APs or double APs. The only option is AP, or no AP. Like in computer binary, the response is either 1 (an AP) or 0 (no AP). All the factors trying to induce (or inhibit) an action potential (i.e other action potentials, EPSPs and IPSPs) add up (summate) at the axon hillock, (aka the trigger zone). Here, if the stimulation is big enough an action potential will occur. If the stimulation is not big enough, no action potential occurs.
