Nerve Signals and Animal electricity

[lauren_study]

Could anyone explain to me nerve signals in particular action potential and the Myelin Steath?
Also animal electricty with Luigi Galvani?
Thankyou if you can :)
ps Sorry if this in wrong topic, new user:)

 

[lalbatros]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_potentials
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axon

 

[ravenprp]

Sure, I would be happy to explain nerve signals and animal electricity to you.

Nerve signals, also known as action potentials, are the electrical impulses that travel along nerve cells, or neurons, in the body. These signals are responsible for transmitting information throughout the nervous system and allowing our bodies to respond to stimuli.

The process of generating a nerve signal begins with the neuron receiving a stimulus, such as touch or sound. This stimulus causes a change in the electrical charge of the neuron, creating a small electrical current. This current travels down the length of the neuron, through a series of channels and gates in the cell membrane. When the current reaches the end of the neuron, it triggers the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.

The neurotransmitters then cross the small gap between neurons, called the synapse, and bind to receptors on the next neuron. This process continues until the signal reaches its destination, such as a muscle or gland, and causes a response.

The myelin sheath is a fatty layer that surrounds some nerve cells and acts as an insulator, allowing nerve signals to travel faster and more efficiently. It is made up of a substance called myelin, which is produced by specialized cells called Schwann cells. The myelin sheath is important for proper nerve function and is essential for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, where the sheath is damaged and nerve signals are disrupted.

Now, onto animal electricity and Luigi Galvani. Animal electricity is the term used to describe the electrical activity found in living organisms. This was first observed and studied by 18th century Italian scientist Luigi Galvani. He conducted experiments on dissected frogs and observed that when their muscles were touched with a metal object, they would twitch as if they were still alive. Galvani believed that this was due to a type of electricity present in the animal's body, which he called "animal electricity."

Although Galvani's theories were later disproven, his work paved the way for understanding the role of electricity in the body and the development of technologies such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) and pacemakers.

I hope this helps to clarify nerve signals and animal electricity for you. Please let me know if you have any further questions. And welcome to the community! :)