Question

Stimuli alter the activity of excitable sensory cells and generate action potentials via _____.

Answer 1

TRANSDUCTION. This refers to the stimulus being converted into an action potential which is then transmitted in the axons going to the central nervous system. This usually starts at the receptor cell. The stimulus change the electrical potential across the cell membrane. This will result in depolarization of the membrane which allow the action potential to be transmitted towards the brain where the electrical impulse is integrated. This usually happens in sensory cells in the body such as vestibular apparatus, olfactory cells, the retina and even the nerve endings alls over our body.