Station 1: Graph and Label the Nerve Impulse
Directions:
1. Draw the graph of the changes in electric current during the nerve impulse. Be sure to include titles
on both axes with units and appropriate intervals.
2. Label
 resting potential
 refractory period
 depolarization
 threshold
 repolarization
3. Determine which type of membrane channel/pump is active during each step AND the direction of
the movement of ions.
Station 1: Graph and Label the Nerve Impulse
Directions:
1. Draw the graph of the changes in electric current during the nerve impulse. Be sure to include titles on
both axes with units and appropriate intervals.
2. Label
 resting potential
 refractory period
 depolarization
 threshold
 repolarization
3. Determine which type of membrane channel/pump is active during each step AND the direction of the
movement of ions.
Station 1: Graph and Label the Nerve Impulse
Directions:
1. Draw the graph of the changes in electric current during the nerve impulse. Be sure to include titles on
both axes with units and appropriate intervals.
2. Label
 resting potential
 refractory period
 depolarization
 threshold
 repolarization
3. Determine which type of membrane channel/pump is active during each step AND the direction of the
movement of ions.
Answer Key
Station 2: Draw & Label The Neuron
Directions:
1. Draw a typical Neuron
2. Label
 Nucleus
 Axon
 Nodes of Ranvier
 Cell Body
 Dendrites
3. Show the direction the nerve impulse moves


Motor End Plate or Axon
Terminal
Myelin Sheath
Station 2: Draw & Label The Neuron
Directions:
1. Draw a typical Neuron
2. Label
 Nucleus
 Axon
 Nodes of Ranvier
 Cell Body
 Dendrites
3. Show the direction the nerve impulse moves


Motor End Plate or Axon
Terminal
Myelin Sheath
Station 2: Draw & Label The Neuron
Directions:
1. Draw a typical Neuron
2. Label
 Nucleus
 Axon
 Nodes of Ranvier
 Cell Body
 Dendrites
3. Show the direction the nerve impulse moves
Answer Key


Motor End Plate or Axon
Terminal
Myelin Sheath
Station 3: Sequence the steps of the Nerve Impulse & the Synapse
Directions:
1. Pick a set of cards (Nerve Impulse = Blue / Synapse = Green) and put them in order.
2. Try and remember the order without using the cards.
resting membrane is polarized;
interior is -70mV/negative relative
to outside; more sodium ions
outside than inside; more
potassium ions inside than outside
Disturbance of membrane
Sodium channels open
Sodium ions rush into cell
Causes depolarization
Sodium channels shut
Potassium channels open
Potassium ions rush out of cell
Causes repolarization (helps
restore polarized state of
membrane
Sodium-potassium pump restores
resting potential and maintains
polarity
Process repeated along the length
of the neuron
resting membrane is polarized;
interior is -70mV/negative relative
to outside; more sodium ions
outside than inside; more
potassium ions inside than outside
Disturbance of membrane
Sodium channels open
Sodium ions rush into cell
Causes depolarization
Sodium channels shut
Potassium channels open
Potassium ions rush out of cell
Causes repolarization (helps
restore polarized state of
membrane
Sodium-potassium pump restores
resting potential and maintains
polarity
Process repeated along the length
of the neuron
Station 3: Sequence the steps of the Nerve Impulse & the Synapse
Directions:
1. Pick a set of cards (Nerve Impulse = Blue / Synapse = Green) and put them in order.
2. Try and remember the order without using the cards.
resting membrane is polarized;
interior is -70mV/negative relative
to outside; more sodium ions
outside than inside; more
potassium ions inside than outside
Disturbance of membrane
Sodium channels open
Sodium ions rush into cell
Causes depolarization
Sodium channels shut
Potassium channels open
Potassium ions rush out of cell
Causes repolarization (helps
restore polarized state of
membrane
Sodium-potassium pump restores
resting potential and maintains
polarity
Process repeated along the length
of the neuron
resting membrane is polarized;
interior is -70mV/negative relative
to outside; more sodium ions
outside than inside; more
potassium ions inside than outside
Disturbance of membrane
Sodium channels open
Sodium ions rush into cell
Causes depolarization
Sodium channels shut
Potassium channels open
Potassium ions rush out of cell
Causes repolarization (helps
restore polarized state of
membrane
Sodium-potassium pump restores
resting potential and maintains
polarity
Process repeated along the length
of the neuron
Action potential reaches axon
terminal
Calcium channels open
Calcium causes vesicles to release
neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter crosses synaptic
cleft
Neurotransmitter binds to
neuroreceptors
Triggers signal in post-synaptic
neuron
Action potential reaches axon
terminal
Calcium channels open
Calcium causes vesicles to release
neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter crosses synaptic
cleft
Neurotransmitter binds to
neuroreceptors
Triggers signal in post-synaptic
neuron
Action potential reaches axon
terminal
Calcium channels open
Calcium causes vesicles to release
neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter crosses synaptic
cleft
Neurotransmitter binds to
neuroreceptors
Triggers signal in post-synaptic
neuron
Action potential reaches axon
terminal
Calcium channels open
Calcium causes vesicles to release
neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter crosses synaptic
cleft
Neurotransmitter binds to
neuroreceptors
Triggers signal in post-synaptic
neuron
Action potential reaches axon
terminal
Calcium channels open
Calcium causes vesicles to release
neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter crosses synaptic
cleft
Neurotransmitter binds to
neuroreceptors
Triggers signal in post-synaptic
neuron
Answer Key
The Nerve Impulse:
The Synapse: