SYDE 444
Biomedical Engineering: Human Function and Its Measurement

Assignment #1

Physiology of Excitable Cells and the Origin of Biopotentials


Answer each of the following questions using approximately 400 words for each answer.
Concentrate on the fundamental physical processes involved and be as quantitative as possible.

1. Explain how the resting membrane potential of excitable cells is created and maintained.

2. Explain what an action potential is and how it is created.

3. Explain how action potentials are propagated and what determines their velocity of propagation.

Assignment due Wednesday January 12, 2000

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