Question

1. Action potentials are self-propagating – explain what is meant by this term in terms of action potential conduction down the axon? This question has to do with Animal Physiology.

Answer 1

The axon hillock is the site where all the action potential gets generated. When membrane potential reaches to threshold as a result of graded potential.The threshold here is the membrane potential at which membrane in trigger region (where membraneaction potential generated in sensory neurons by peripheral processes) reaches the voltage -55mV and the depolarisation of 15mV. At this point action potential becomes self propagatory in nature and it automatically generate the action potententail in adjacent membrane and therefore propagate down to the axon and reaches to synaptic region of axon.