action potential (redirected from compound action potential)

action potential

n.

A momentary change in electrical potential on the surface of a cell, especially of a nerve or muscle cell, that occurs when it is stimulated, resulting in the transmission of an electrical impulse.

---

action potential

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) a localized change in electrical potential, from about -70 mV to +30 mV and back again, that occurs across a nerve fibre during transmission of a nerve impulse

---

action potential  (kshn)

A momentary change in electrical potential on the surface of a neuron or muscle cell. Nerve impulses are action potentials. They either stimulate a change in polarity in another neuron or cause a muscle cell to contract.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

action potential - the local voltage change across the cell wall as a nerve impulse is transmitted nerve impulse, nervous impulse, neural impulse, impulse - the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber; "they demonstrated the transmission of impulses from the cortex to the hypothalamus"