Q What is another name for a nerve impulse?
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Explanation
A nerve impulse is also known as an action potential. It is a brief electrical signal that travels along the axon of a neuron, and it is caused by a change in the membrane potential of the neuron. This change in membrane potential, which is known as depolarization, occurs when sodium ions rush into the cell, making the inside more positive. This depolarization then triggers the opening of voltage-gated potassium channels, allowing potassium ions to flow out of the cell, which returns the membrane potential to its resting state. The action potential travels down the axon to the synapse, where it triggers the release of neurotransmitters, which carry the signal to the next neuron or effector cell.
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