SC.912.L.14.22

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Describe the physiology of nerve conduction, including the generator potential, action potential, and the synapse.
General Information
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 912
Body of Knowledge: Life Science
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Standard: Organization and Development of Living Organisms -

A. Cells have characteristic structures and functions that make them distinctive.

B. Processes in a cell can be classified broadly as growth, maintenance, reproduction, and homeostasis.

C. Life can be organized in a functional and structural hierarchy ranging from cells to the biosphere.

D. Most multicellular organisms are composed of organ systems whose structures reflect their particular function.

Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
2000360: Anatomy and Physiology Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

Astrocytes Got Your Back:

In this lesson, students will analyze an intended to support reading in the content area. The article presents exciting new research findings regarding axon generation in scar tissue formation following spinal cord injury. Astrocytes were once thought to decrease the growth of new axon connections, but now these important cells have been shown to actually stimulate growth and connections in the neural network. The lesson plan includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric. Numerous options to extend the lesson are also included.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Nerve Cell: It's All About Connection:

This lesson provides a description of the anatomy and physiology of the nerve cell/neuron. Vocabulary words, diagrams of the nerve cell, and the steps of nerve conduction are presented in this lesson. This lesson also includes a hands-on activity for making and edible nerve cell, group discussion, group activities, diagram worksheets, sentence completion worksheets, and assessments that require written responses from the students to describe how nerve cells transmit information from one cell to another.

Type: Lesson Plan

Plasmolysis in Plant Cells:

This a inquiry investigates plasmolysis in plant cells when exposed to NaCl solution. The ionic solution causes the water within the cell to move out and the cell membrane shrinks inward. Students will prepare wet mount slides, view, draw, record time data for plasmolysis, and analyze the data generated.

Type: Lesson Plan

Text Resource

New Role Identified for Scars at the Site of Injured Spinal Cord:

Recent research funded by the National Institutes of Health points to scar tissue being beneficial to nerve regrowth in spinal injury. Previously it was believed scar tissue prevented nerve regrowth, but this new research shows that astrocyte scars may actually be required for repair and regrowth following spinal cord injury.

Type: Text Resource

Tutorials

Nerve Impulse Transmission:


The transmission of a nerve impulse along a neuron from one end to the other occurs as a result of electrical changes across the membrane of the neuron. This tutorial will help students to visualize and understand the transmission of a nerve impulse.

Type: Tutorial

Voltage-Gated Channels and the Action Potential:

This tutorial explains how a charge is generated across a membrane. The function and role of the voltage-gated sodium ion channel and voltage-gated potassium ion channel are explained in detail.

Type: Tutorial

The Nerve Impulse:

This tutorial explains that the source of the impulse in a neuron is a rapid change in the polarity of the cell membrane in a restricted area. The direction of the electrical gradient is rapidly reversed and then returns to normal. The change in charge stimulates the process to happen in adjacent parts of the cell and the change in the polarity travels down the neuron.

Type: Tutorial

Virtual Manipulative

Neuron:

In this simulation, you will explore how neurons conduct electrical impulses by using the action potential. This phenomenon is generated through the flow of positively charged ions across the neuronal membrane. Stimulate a neuron and monitor what happens. You can pause, rewind, and move forward in time in order to observe the ions as they move across the neuron membrane.
Other ways to explore:

  • Describe why ions can or cannot move across neuron membranes.
  • Identify leakage and gated channels, and describe the function of each.
  • Describe how membrane permeability changes in terms of different types of channels in a neuron.
  • Describe the sequence of events that generates an action potential.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Tutorials

Nerve Impulse Transmission:


The transmission of a nerve impulse along a neuron from one end to the other occurs as a result of electrical changes across the membrane of the neuron. This tutorial will help students to visualize and understand the transmission of a nerve impulse.

Type: Tutorial

Voltage-Gated Channels and the Action Potential:

This tutorial explains how a charge is generated across a membrane. The function and role of the voltage-gated sodium ion channel and voltage-gated potassium ion channel are explained in detail.

Type: Tutorial

The Nerve Impulse:

This tutorial explains that the source of the impulse in a neuron is a rapid change in the polarity of the cell membrane in a restricted area. The direction of the electrical gradient is rapidly reversed and then returns to normal. The change in charge stimulates the process to happen in adjacent parts of the cell and the change in the polarity travels down the neuron.

Type: Tutorial

Virtual Manipulative

Neuron:

In this simulation, you will explore how neurons conduct electrical impulses by using the action potential. This phenomenon is generated through the flow of positively charged ions across the neuronal membrane. Stimulate a neuron and monitor what happens. You can pause, rewind, and move forward in time in order to observe the ions as they move across the neuron membrane.
Other ways to explore:

  • Describe why ions can or cannot move across neuron membranes.
  • Identify leakage and gated channels, and describe the function of each.
  • Describe how membrane permeability changes in terms of different types of channels in a neuron.
  • Describe the sequence of events that generates an action potential.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Virtual Manipulative

Neuron:

In this simulation, you will explore how neurons conduct electrical impulses by using the action potential. This phenomenon is generated through the flow of positively charged ions across the neuronal membrane. Stimulate a neuron and monitor what happens. You can pause, rewind, and move forward in time in order to observe the ions as they move across the neuron membrane.
Other ways to explore:

  • Describe why ions can or cannot move across neuron membranes.
  • Identify leakage and gated channels, and describe the function of each.
  • Describe how membrane permeability changes in terms of different types of channels in a neuron.
  • Describe the sequence of events that generates an action potential.

Type: Virtual Manipulative