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Pill

Theme C - Interaction &  Interdependence

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Direct Hit

Theme A - Unity & Diversity

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Page Facing Up

Theme B - Form & Function

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Keycap Digit One

Theme D - Continuity & Change

🚀 Quick Overview: When an action potential (like a tiny electrical surge) travels along a neuron, it&#39;s all because of sodium ions playing tag inside and outside the axon. Imagine them like runners passing a baton in a relay race!

<ul>
	<li>Action potential travels along an axon due to sodium ions moving around.</li>
	<li>Sodium ions enter the axon when it&#39;s depolarized.
	<ul>
		<li>This means more sodium inside and less outside.</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

Fun Fact! 🐠: Think of sodium like salt in the sea. Fish use the difference in salt inside and outside their cells to do essential things, just like our neurons!

<ul>
	<li>When a part of the axon is depolarized, its sodium ion concentration is different from its neighboring non-depolarized part.</li>
	<li>This difference? It&#39;s the relay race! Sodium ions pass the baton:
	<ul>
		<li>Inside the axon: from the depolarized to the non-depolarized part.</li>
		<li>Outside the axon: the other way round!</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>These sodium movements, like water streams, are our local currents.</li>
	<li>They help equalize the concentration, paving the way for more depolarization.</li>
</ul>

Cool Analogy! 🌩️: Think of these currents like lightning during a storm. The electricity looks for the path of least resistance. Sodium does something similar, moving where it&#39;s needed.

<ul>
	<li>Normally, the neuron&#39;s membrane has a resting potential of -70mV (it&#39;s chillin&#39;).</li>
	<li>But when local currents do their thing, it rises to about -50mV.
	<ul>
		<li>At this point, it&#39;s like the neuron&#39;s alarm clock goes off! It&#39;s ready to work!</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
	<li>This -50mV is the threshold potential. Imagine it&#39;s like the &quot;start&quot; command in a video game.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>When -50mV is reached, sodium channels (like gates) open.</li>
	<li>This leads to depolarization, like dominoes falling in a line!</li>
	<li>This wave of &quot;falling dominoes&quot; (depolarization and then repolarization) travels along the axon at speeds from 1 to 100 meters per second.</li>
</ul>

Did You Know? 🚄: This speed can be faster than a moving train, depending on the type of neuron!

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Remember! 🧠: Every time you think, move, or feel, your neurons are passing the sodium &quot;baton&quot; in a relay race inside your brain and body. How cool is that?!

Theme C - Interaction & Interdependence

Unlocking Action Potential Nerve Fiber Journey

Table of content

Sodium ions – the stars of the show