Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function, 7th Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073403717
ISBN 13: 978-0-07340-371-7

Chapter 12 - Section 12.4 - Electrophysiology of Neurons - Before You Go On - Page 454: 12

Answer

When a typical nerve is stimulated on its dendite,it causes the opening of sodium gates the allow Na + to go into the cell . This Na+ inflow neutralizes some of the internal negative charge . So the voltage across the membrane drifts towards zero .

Work Step by Step

When a membrane voltage shifts towards a less negative value it is called depolarization . The incoming Na+ diffuses for a short distance along the inside of the plasma membrane and produces a current that travels from the point of stimulation towards the triggerzone.
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