What keeps an action potential continuing down an axon?
A) At each successive segment of the axon, the action potential is regenerated by depolarization and the movement of ions across the axon's membrane.
B) Neurotransmitters are constantly being released to generate the action potential at each successive segment of the axon.
C) Action potentials are conducted down the axon, just as electricity is conducted through a wire.
D) Ion channels open and close at the nodes of Ranvier, allowing neurotransmitters to enter into the axon and regenerate an action potential at each node.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

At each successive segment of the axon, the action potential is regenerated by depolarization and the movement of ions across the axon's membrane. This means that the electrical charge inside the axon becomes more positive, which opens voltage-gated ion channels and allows ions to flow in and out of the axon. This triggers the release of neurotransmitters at the terminal buttons, which then signals the next neuron in the circuit. This process continues down the length of the axon until it reaches the terminal buttons, where the neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft. Therefore, the correct choice is A.

What Keeps an Action Potential Continuing Down an Axon