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CAYBOT - PhysioEx Exercise 3 Activity 7

The document summarizes a PhysioEx lab report on the neurophysiology of nerve impulses. The lab involved measuring the conduction velocity of action potentials in different types of axons. The results showed that conduction velocity was fastest in A fibers at 10 m/s, slower in B fibers at 2 m/s, and slowest in C fibers at 0.2 m/s. This was consistent with the predictions that larger diameter and more myelinated axons conduct faster.

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Faustine Caybot
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30 views6 pages

CAYBOT - PhysioEx Exercise 3 Activity 7

The document summarizes a PhysioEx lab report on the neurophysiology of nerve impulses. The lab involved measuring the conduction velocity of action potentials in different types of axons. The results showed that conduction velocity was fastest in A fibers at 10 m/s, slower in B fibers at 2 m/s, and slowest in C fibers at 0.2 m/s. This was consistent with the predictions that larger diameter and more myelinated axons conduct faster.

Uploaded by

Faustine Caybot
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PhysioEx Lab Report

Exercise 3: Neurophysiology of Nerve Impulses


Activity 7: The Action Potential: Conduction Velocity
Name: Fausine Caybot
Date: 7 October 2023
Session ID: session-5e2c5c68-a99b-85db-6e56-0735b851e951

Pre-lab Quiz Results


You scored 100% by answering 5 out of 5 questions correctly.

1 An action potential can be propagated along an axon because there are _______ channels
in the membrane.

You correctly answered: voltage-gated.

2 The units of conduction velocity are

You correctly answered: meters/second.

3 Which of the following will affect axonal conduction velocity?

You correctly answered: both the diameter of the axon and the amount of myelination.

4 Which of the following describes an A fiber?

You correctly answered: large diameter, heavily myelinated.

5 Which of the following describes a C fiber?

You correctly answered: small diameter, unmyelinated.

Experiment Results
Predict Questions

1 Predict Question 1: How will the conduction velocity in the B fiber compare with that in
the A Fiber?

Your answer: The conduction velocity in the B fiber will be slower because the B fiber has
a smaller diameter and less myelination.
2 Predict Question 2: How will the conduction velocity in the C fiber compare with that in
the B Fiber?

Your answer: The conduction velocity in the C fiber will be slower because the C fiber has
a smaller diameter and less myelination.

Stop & Think Questions

1 Note the difference in time between the action potential recorded at R1 and the action
potential recorded at R2. The distance between these sets of recording electrodes is 2
centimeters (0.02 m).

Convert the time from milliseconds to seconds, enter the time (in seconds).

You answered: 0.002 sec.

2 Calculate the conduction velocity in meters/second by dividing the distance between R1


and R2 (0.02 m) by the time it took for the action potential to travel from R1 to R2.

Enter the conduction velocity.

You answered: 10 m/sec.

3 Note the difference in time between the action potential recorded at R1 and the action
potential recorded at R2.

Convert the time from milliseconds to seconds, enter the time (in seconds).

You answered: 0.01 sec.

4 Calculate the conduction velocity in meters/second by dividing the distance between R1


and R2 (0.02 m) by the time it took for the action potential to travel from R1 to R2.

Enter the conduction velocity.

You answered: 2 m/sec.

5 Note the difference in time between the action potential recorded at R1 and the action
potential recorded at R2.

Convert the time from milliseconds to seconds, enter the time (in seconds).
You answered: 0.1 sec.

6 Calculate the conduction velocity in meters/second by dividing the distance between R1


and R2 (0.02 m) by the time it took for the action potential to travel from R1 to R2.

Enter the conduction velocity.

You answered: 0.2 m/sec.

Experiment Data

Axon Type Myelination Stimulus Distance Time Time Conduction


Voltage From R1 to between between Velocity
(mV) R2 (m) APs (msec) APs (sec) (m/sec)
A fiber Heavy 30 0.02 2 0.002 10
B fiber Light 30 0.02 10 0.01 2
C fiber None 30 0.02 100 0.1 0.2
Post-lab Quiz Results
You scored 100% by answering 4 out of 4 questions correctly.

1 Action potential conduction velocity is fastest in which of the following fibers?

You correctly answered: A fibers.

2 Action potential conduction velocity is slowest in which of the following fibers?

You correctly answered: C fibers.

3 Why did the timescale have to be changed to measure the conduction velocity of the C
fibers?
You correctly answered: The total time shown on the oscilloscope would have been too
short to observe the action potential at R2.

4 The axons from touch fibers are A fibers, and the axons from pain fibers are C fibers.
When you stub your toe, which would you expect to perceive first?

You correctly answered: your toe touching something.

Review Sheet Results


1 How did the conduction velocity in the B fiber compare with that in the A Fiber? How well
did the results compare with your prediction?

Your answer:

Based on the simulation, conduction velocity in the B fiber was indeed slower as
compared with that in the A fiber.
My prediction is parallel to the experiment results.

2 How did the conduction velocity in the C fiber compare with that in the B Fiber? How well
did the results compare with your prediction?

Your answer:

Based on the simulation, conduction velocity in the C fiber was indeed slower as
compared with that in the B fiber.
My prediction is parallel to the experiment results.

3 What is the effect of axon diameter on conduction velocity?

Your answer:

The smaller axon diameter slows down the conduction velocity.

4 What is the effect of the amount of myelination on conduction velocity?

Your answer:

The thinner the axon myelination is, the slower the conduction velocity. Thicker means
faster conduction velocity, because the sodium and potassium is less likely to leak
outside, and is forced to flow straight along the axon due to increased internal resistance.

5 Why did the time between the stimulation and the action potential at R1 differ for each
axon?

Your answer:

Because each of the axon used varied in the amount of myelination and diameter. Both
the amount of myelination and diameter affects the saltatory conduction velocity.

6 Why did you need to change the timescale on the oscilloscope for each axon?

Your answer:

Because the smaller diameter axons with lesser myelination may conduct action
potentials much slower. If the timescale was kept at 1millisecond per division, the action
potential might not be seen.

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