Nerve impulse
Nerve Impulse
A nerve impulse (pronunciation: /ˈnɜːrv ˈɪmpʌls/) is the fundamental unit of information transfer in the nervous system. It is an electrical signal that travels along an axon. The nerve impulse is the way nerve cells (neurons) communicate with one another.
Etymology
The term "nerve impulse" is derived from the Latin nervus meaning "sinew, nerve" and the Latin impulsus meaning "a pushing against, pressure, shock."
Definition
A nerve impulse is a wave of electrical activity that passes from one end of a neuron to the other. It is generated when a neuron is stimulated by a signal from the senses or another neuron. The impulse travels rapidly down the axon of the neuron, and when it reaches the end, it triggers the release of a chemical called a neurotransmitter.
Related Terms
- Action potential: The change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell.
- Neuron: A specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.
- Axon: The long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells.
- Neurotransmitter: Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron (nerve cell) to another 'target' neuron.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nerve impulse
- Wikipedia's article - Nerve impulse
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