Neurophysiology of

nerve and muscleA Concise

Introduction
2nd lecture 1st Edition

Ass. Prof. DR/ ISLAM AL-AZAB

Ass. Prof. of Physical Therapy for
Neuromuscular Disorders and its Surgery,
Consultant of EMG and Nerve conduction
studies
Faculty of Physical Therapy
Prepared by
J. W. Taylor V Cairo University
Principles of Neural and
Hormonal
Communication
 Membrane Potential
• Recall:
– All cells display membrane potential
– Separation of charge across a memebrane
– Uneven distribution of Na+, K+, and large
intracellular protein anions

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
Two major regulatory systems of the body: that
ensure survival of the body:

The Nervous System: Neural Communication

Accomplished by Nerve Cells

The Endocrine System: Hormonal Communication

Accomplished by Hormones

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Neural Communication
• Nerve and muscle are excitable tissues
• Can undergo rapid changes in their membrane
potentials
• Change their resting potentials into electrical
signals

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Neurons

• Gather & transmit information by:

– Responding to stimuli
– Sending electrochemical impulses
– Releasing chemical messages

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
7-7
The Action Potential
If a certain threshold level is
exceeded within the Na+ influx,
the depolarization of the
membrane causes an Action
potential to quickly change
from – 80 mV up to + 30 mV
(Fig. 7). It is a monopolar
electrical burst that is
immediately restored by the
repolarization phase and
followed by an After
Hyperpolarization period of the
membrane. Starting from the
motor end plates, the action
potential spreads along the
muscle fiber in both directions
and inside the muscle fiber
through a tubular system.
This excitation leads to the release of calcium
ions in the intra-cellular space. Linked chemical
processes (Electro-mechanical coupling)
finally produce a shortening of the contractile
elements of the muscle cell.
This model linking excitation and contraction
represents a highly correlated relationship
(although weak excitations can exist that do not
result in contraction). From a practical point of
view, one can assume that in a healthy muscle
any form of muscle contraction is accompanied
by the described mechanisms.
 Neural Communication
• Membrane electrical states
– Polarization
• Any state when the membrane potential is other than
0mV
– Depolarization
• Membrane becomes less polarized than at resting
potential
– Repolarization
• Membrane returns to resting potential after having been
depolarized
– Hyperpolarization
• Membrane becomes more polarized than at resting
potential

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
Types of Changes in Membrane
Potential

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Neural Communication

• Two kinds of potential change

– Graded potentials
• Serve as short-distance signals

– Action potentials
• Serve as long-distance signals

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Ion movement
• Electrical signals produced by ion movement
across a membrane
• Specific carrier-mediated transport
• Leak channels: open all the time
• Gated channels: can open and close, regulating
permeability
– Voltage gated channels
– Chemically gated channels
– Mechanically gated channels
– Thermally gated channels

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Graded Potentials
• Local changes in membrane potential
– Occur in varying grades or degrees of magnitude
(strength).
– -70mV to -60mV is a 10mV graded potential
• The stronger the trigger, the larger the graded
potential
• Trigger will open an ion channel in a small,
specialized region of the membrane
– Usually vg Na+ channel

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
Current Flow During a Graded Potential
 Graded Potential
• Occurs in small, specialized region of excitable
cell membranes
• Magnitude of graded potential varies directly
with the magnitude of the triggering event

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Graded Potentials
• The Stronger a triggering event, the larger the
resultant graded potential
• Graded Potential spread by passive Current
flow.
• Graded potentials die over short distances
– K+ leaks out of the membrane
– Decremental: gradually decreases
• If strong enough, graded potentials trigger action
potentials

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Action Potentials
• Brief, rapid, large (100mV) changes in
membrane potential: potential actually reverses
• Involves only a small portion of the total
excitable cell membrane
• All or nothing
• Conduction without decrement

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
Types of Changes in Membrane
Potential

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Action Potentials

• When membrane reaches threshold potential

– Voltage-gated Na+channels in the membrane
undergo conformational changes
– Flow of sodium ions into the ICF reverses the
membrane potential from -70 mV to +30 mV
– Flow of potassium ions into the ECF restores the
membrane potential to the resting state

Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication

Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
 Chapter 4 Principles of Neural and Hormonal Communication
Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood ©2010 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
Propagation of
the Action
Potential
• An increase in stimulus intensity beyond
threshold will result in the rapid rise and
fall of the potential. Which is called action
potential. Once the membrane has been
depolarized above threshold, the
generation of the action potential is
automatic and no longer controlled by the
stimulus.
 The Action Potential
• Depolarization – influx of sodium (Na+) or
another positive ion makes the membrane
potential more positive.
• When the membrane potential reaches
threshold, voltage-gated Na+ ion channels open.
• After 1 msec, voltage-gated K+ channels open,
polarizing the neuron again.
• Sodium-potassium pump helps restore neuron
to its resting potential.
– Resting potential is polarized, typically -65 mV
 Excitability changes during different phases of
action potential
1-During excitation before reaching firing
level…..excitability increased
2-Absolute refractory period….excitability
lost
3-Relative refractory period……excitability
relatively increased but still below normal
4-Supernormal phase of excitability…can be
stimulated by subthreshold
5-Eexitability below normal
(hyperpolarization)
Permeability Changes and Ion Fluxes During an Action Potential
 Principles of Action
Potentials
• 1. The All or Nothing Principle:
Action Potentials occur in all or none
fashion depending on the strength of the
stimulus

• 2. The Refractory Period:

Responsible for setting up limit on the
frequency of Action Potentials
 Refractory Periods
• Absolute refractory
period:
– Membrane cannot
produce another AP
because Na+ channels
are inactivated
• Relative refractory
period occurs when
VG K+ channels are
open, making it
harder to depolarize
to threshold
7-38
 Thank you

Ass. Prof. DR/ ISLAM AL-AZAB

Ass. Prof. of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular Disorders and
its Surgery,
Consultant of EMG and Nerve conduction studies
Faculty of Physical Therapy
Cairo University

Email/ islam_alazab2005@yahoo.com
Prepared by
J. W. Taylor V Mob. NO. 00201002403314