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Ch. 13 The Peripheral Nervous System
Amerman - Human Anatomy & Physiology 2nd Edition
Amerman2nd EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136873822Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksAmerman 2nd EditionCh. 13 The Peripheral Nervous SystemProblem 8
Chapter 13, Problem 8

A receptor potential:
a. Always leads to an action potential
b. Never leads to an action potential
c. Causes hyperpolarization of the neuron
d. Leads to an action potential if the stimulus is strong enough

Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of a receptor potential: A receptor potential is a graded potential that occurs in sensory receptors in response to a stimulus. It is not an all-or-nothing event like an action potential, but rather its magnitude depends on the strength of the stimulus.
Recall the difference between graded potentials and action potentials: Graded potentials, such as receptor potentials, can vary in size and may or may not trigger an action potential. Action potentials, on the other hand, are all-or-nothing events that occur if the threshold is reached.
Analyze the conditions under which a receptor potential can lead to an action potential: If the receptor potential is strong enough to depolarize the membrane to the threshold level, it will trigger an action potential in the associated neuron.
Eliminate incorrect options: (a) is incorrect because a receptor potential does not always lead to an action potential. (b) is incorrect because a receptor potential can lead to an action potential under certain conditions. (c) is incorrect because receptor potentials can cause depolarization, not just hyperpolarization.
Select the correct answer: The correct option is (d) because a receptor potential leads to an action potential only if the stimulus is strong enough to depolarize the membrane to the threshold level.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Receptor Potential

A receptor potential is a graded change in the membrane potential of a sensory receptor cell in response to a stimulus. This change can vary in magnitude depending on the strength of the stimulus, and it is crucial for converting external stimuli into electrical signals that the nervous system can interpret.
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Action Potential

An action potential is a rapid, all-or-nothing electrical signal that travels along the axon of a neuron. It occurs when the membrane potential reaches a certain threshold, typically triggered by a strong enough receptor potential. This process is essential for the transmission of information within the nervous system.
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Action Potential

Threshold Stimulus

A threshold stimulus is the minimum level of stimulus intensity required to trigger an action potential in a neuron. If the receptor potential generated by a stimulus exceeds this threshold, an action potential will be initiated, leading to the propagation of the signal along the neuron.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Why is visceral pain often perceived as cutaneous pain?

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Textbook Question

Mark the following statements about the spinal cord as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.

The corticospinal tracts are the main sensory tracts in the spinal cord.

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Textbook Question

First-order somatic sensory neurons are_____neurons whose cell bodies are located in the_____.


a. Multipolar, posterior horn

b. Pseudounipolar, posterior root ganglion

c. Bipolar, anterior horn

d. Pseudounipolar, posterior horn

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Textbook Question

Place the following sequence of events for the detection of somatic sensation in the proper order. Place a 1 by the first event, a 2 by the second event, and so on.     

a. ______The central process transmits the action potential to a second-order sensory neuron in the CNS.     

b. ______The action potential is transferred to the central process in the posterior root ganglion.     

c. ______The stimulus triggers an action potential.     

d. ______The signal is transferred to other CNS sensory neurons for eventual perception and interpretation.     

e. ______The action potential is propagated along the peripheral process of the neuron.

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Textbook Question

Which cranial nerves are sensory only, primarily motor, and mixed?

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Textbook Question

Match the following nerves with the structures they innervate.     


____Phrenic nerve     

____Median nerve     

____Femoral nerve     

____Tibial nerve     

____Radial nerve     

____Intercostal nerves     

____Common fibular nerve     

____Musculocutaneous nerve


a. Motor to the triceps brachii muscle and muscles in the forearm that extend the hand; sensory from the posterior hand

b. Motor to the muscles in the anterior arm that flex the forearm; sensory from skin over the lateral forearm

c. Motor to the muscles in the anterior and lateral leg that evert and dorsiflex the foot; sensory from the skin of the anteroinferior leg

d. Motor to the diaphragm muscle

e. Motor to the muscles in the anterior thigh extend the knee; sensory from the skin over the anterior thigh and leg

f. Motor to the hamstring muscles that extend the thigh and flex the leg, muscles of the leg that plantarflex the foot, and muscles of the foot; sensory from the skin over the posterior and lateral leg and foot

g. Motor to the muscles between the ribs and the abdominal muscles; sensory from the skin over the abdomen

h. Motor to the muscles in the forearm that flex the hand, certain intrinsic hand muscles; sensory from the skin of the anterior hand

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