Understanding Action Potentials

Practice Questions

AP Biology › Understanding Action Potentials

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1

Which of the following reasons best explains the "hyperpolarization" phenomenon during an action potential?

2

Action of which of the following is directly affected in a malnourished individual?

I. Sodium and potassium leak channels

II. Sodium-potassium pump

III. Voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels

3

The sodium-potassium pump is an example of which of the following?

4

An action potential will only be initiated if __________.

5

What ion is principally responsible for triggering the threshold membrane potential?

6

Sodium leak channels, potassium leak channels, and sodium-potassium pumps are essential to maintaining the resting membrane potential. What is true regarding these three proteins?

7

Before a muscle can contract, an action potential must be initialized from a neuron that is innervating the muscle. An action potential begins when the cell’s voltage-gated sodium channel opens. Once opened, sodium rushes into and depolarizes the cell. Once the neuron is depolarized, it is able to release neurotransmitters onto the post-synaptic cleft located on the muscle. Downstream, the neurotransmitters collectively will generate another action potential within the muscle and allow it to release calcium needed for muscle contraction.

Hyponatremia occurs when the sodium concentration in the blood is low. Which of the following best describes how this will affect muscle contractions?

8

A particular neuron is found to have a resting membrane potential of and a threshold stimulus of . A researcher applies the following voltages to the neuron:

On what trial does the researcher generate an action potential in the neuron?

9

Which of the following is characterized by having a membrane potential below –70mV?

10

What does "temporal summation" mean in regards to the generation of action potentials?

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