Action Potential Web Quest - Biology 12 AP



Action Potential Web Quest AP

Names ________________________

Part 1 – Neurons

Go to

1. What is a neuron? _________________________________________________________

2. Summarize the function of each of the following parts of the neuron:

Soma (Cell Body)________________________________________________________

Dendrites _____________________________________________________________

Axon _________________________________________________________________

Myelin Sheath _________________________________________________________

Synaptic End Bulbs (Synaptic terminal)_______________________________________

Synapse _______________________________________________________________

3. Draw a neuron below and label the parts in the box below.

Save this website for later, the other tabs have helpful and simplified animations of how a neuron works.

(optional for fun and practice) Go to

Play the game “Make A Mad Mad Mad Neuron” with Dr. Dendristein

Part 2 - Resting Potential and Action Potential Videos (short)

Go to Watch this video. It shows how membrane potential (resting potential) develops in the neuron cell.

1. What causes the inside of the cell to be more negative compared to the outside of the cell?

Go to Watch this video. It shows how resting potential develops as well as how an action potential (impulse) develops.

2. What role does the sodium/potassium pump (Na+/K+ pump) have in creating resting potential?

3. What happens to the inside of the cell when sodium ions flood into the cell?

4. After sodium ions have flooded into the cell and the sodium gates close, what happens to the potassium ions?

5. How does an action potential conduct along an axon?

6. Describe and draw an action potential.

Part 3 – Ions Control Membrane Potential

Go to

1. Neurons maintain different concentrations of certain ions across their cell membranes. What ion is in high concentration outside the neuron? _____________________

2. Which ion is in high concentration inside the neuron? ___________________

3. What specialized protein exists in the neural cell membrane? __________________________

4. What is its function? __________________________________________________________

5. Under resting conditions which ion leaks more, the sodium leaking inward or the potassium leaking outward? ___________________________________________________________

6. The result of the leaks makes the outside of the cell charged ________ and the inside of the cell charged ________. The cell is said to be ____________.

7. Since sodium is in high concentration outside of the cell what happens if the sodium channel opens in the membrane? Which way does the sodium move? ________________________.

8. This makes the neuron momentarily ___________ charged. The cell is said to be ___________.

9. This switch in membrane potential is the _________________________.

10. View the animation to see how the action potential moves down the length of the cell (in one direction). Summarize what’s happening.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. What is the speed of an action potential directly related to? __________________________________________________________

12. What type of axon results in fast transmission rates? ________________________________________________________________

13. What substance allows for rapid action potential? _________________________

14. What produces myelin in the Peripheral Nervous System? _____________________ Central Nervous System? _____________________

15. Where does an action potential take place on a myelinated neuron? ___________________________________________________

16. Why does an action potential happen faster on a myelinated neuron than an unmelinated neuron? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

17. What does the disease Multiple Sclerosis have to do with all this?

Part 4 – Can You Explain What Is Happening Here?

Go to and run the simulation.

***Under control, make sure all the boxes are checked so you can see all the charts and information. Zoom into the membrane and slow the simulation down.****

You should be able to explain to your partner the resting potential situation.

Click the Stimulate Neuron button. You should be able to explain to your partner what is happening with respect to ion channels opening/closing, movement of ions, depolarization/repolarization and return to resting potential.

Part 5 – If you are having a hard time understanding resting potential, action potential and impulse transmission, go back to and start at the ‘transmission’ tab. Use the 'next' button to follow the steps of the animation.

This website also offers a simple explanation. I expect you already understand diffusion and electrical charge, so start at “voltage and the axon”

Part 6 - Video Quizzes







Part 7 – Hopefully a Familiar Webpage…

Go to

Down on the bottom there is a collection of links to animations, simulations, flashcards and games about action potentials, synapses, divisions of the nervous system, and brain anatomy and function. These are 4 of the big ideas from chapter 48.

You should have a clear understanding of how a neuron can fire, how that neuron can pass the signal onto another neuron (or muscle etc), the brain functions, and the divisions of the nervous system.

Spend some time in this section as there are some great examples here!

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