nerve impulse

nerve impulse
nerve impulse n the progressive physicochemical change in the membrane of a nerve fiber that follows stimulation and serves to transmit a record of sensation from a receptor or an instruction to act to an effector called also nervous impulse

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the electrical activity in the membrane of a neurone that - by its rapid spread from one region to the next - is the means by which information is transmitted within the nervous system along the axons of the neurones. The membrane of a resting nerve is charged (polarized) because of the different concentrations of ions inside and outside the cell. When a nerve impulse is triggered, a wave of depolarization spreads, and ions flow across the membrane (see action potential). Until the nerve has undergone repolarization no further nerve impulses can pass.

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neural impulse the electrochemical process propagated along nerve fibers.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • nerve impulse — n. an all or nothing electrochemical change that sweeps over a nerve fiber when it is stimulated …   English World dictionary

  • nerve impulse — the electrical activity in the membrane of a neurone that – by its rapid spread from one region to the next – is the means by which information is transmitted within the nervous system along the axons of the neurones. The membrane of a resting… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • nerve impulse — nervinis impulsas statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Jaudinimo banga, plintanti nerviniu audiniu. Atsiranda padirginus nervų ląsteles. Perduoda signalus iš jautriųjų periferinių nervų galūnių (receptorių) į centrinę nervų… …   Sporto terminų žodynas

  • nerve impulse — nerve′ im pulse n. phl a progressive wave of electric and chemical activity along a nerve fiber, stimulating or inhibiting action …   From formal English to slang

  • nerve impulse — noun the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber they demonstrated the transmission of impulses from the cortex to the hypothalamus • Syn: ↑nervous impulse, ↑neural impulse, ↑impulse • Hypernyms: ↑electrical discharge …   Useful english dictionary

  • nerve impulse — noun Date: 1900 the progressive physicochemical change in the membrane of a nerve fiber that follows stimulation and serves to transmit a record of sensation from a receptor or an instruction to act to an effector called also nervous impulse …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • nerve impulse — Physiol. a progressive wave of electric and chemical activity along a nerve fiber that stimulates or inhibits the action of a muscle, gland, or other nerve cell. [1895 1900] * * * …   Universalium

  • nerve impulse — /ˈnɜv ɪmpʌls/ (say nerv impuls) noun a wave of electrical and chemical activity progressing along nerve fibres and acting as a stimulus to muscle, gland, or other nerve cells …  

  • nerve impulse — noun The signal transmitted along a nerve fibre, either in response to a stimulus (such as touch, pain or heat), or as an instruction (such as causing a muscle to contract) …   Wiktionary

  • nerve impulse — An action potential …   Dictionary of molecular biology

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