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EA EA
wrote...
Posts: 223
Rep: 7 0
11 years ago
In a class experiment, the strength of a neural stimulus and the resulting muscle contraction are compared. A single motor neuron that synapses with a muscle fibre is suspended. The other end of the muscle fibre is attached to a mass. If an electrical stimulus is sufficient to cause an impulse in the neuron, the muscle will contract and lift the mass. The following data were obtained from the experiment. Analyze the data, and answer the following questions.

Strength of stimulus (mV)
1
2
3
4
Mass lifted by muscle contraction (g)
0
10
?
?

a) Define "threshold potential". What is the minimum size of the stimulus required to reach the threshold potential for this motor neuron?
b) Explain the all-or-none response. Then predict the mass that could be lifted at 3mV of stimuli and at 4mV of stimuli.
I need help with the second part of each q please
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wrote...
Staff Member
11 years ago
a) Define "threshold potential". What is the minimum size of the stimulus required to reach the threshold potential for this motor neuron?

The threshold potential is the critical level to which the membrane potential must be depolarized in order to initiate an action potential. In other words, it is the potential across a membrane that must be reached for the cell to fire an action potential. Imagine starting up a lawnmower. You can keep pulling on the cord (similar to generating a local potential), but in order for the mower to start (similar to the cell firing an action potential), you have to pull the cord a certain force for it to start. That force is the equivalent to a threshold potential.

b) Explain the all-or-none response. Then predict the mass that could be lifted at 3mV of stimuli and at 4mV of stimuli.

Action potentials are all-or-none phenomena: they either happen completely, in the case of a threshold stimulus, or not at all, in the event of a sub-threshold stimulus.
cestix,  Carolina Castillo2
- Master of Science in Biology
- Bachelor of Science
wrote...
Staff Member
Educator
10 years ago
HI EA

Could you give us an update on the answer to this problem? Some other member is asking a similar question here: https://biology-forums.com/index.php?topic=109488
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