A New Way to Describe Intra- and Extra-cellular Electrical Potentials and their Generation by Excitable Cells

作者：Rodriguez Falces Javier^*; Navallas Javier; Malanda Armando

来源：International Journal of Engineering Education, 2012, 28(3): 674-685.

• biomedical engineering
• bioelectricity
• excitable cell
• electrostatic theory
• intracellular potential
• extracellular potential

A fundamental aspect of bioelectricity studies is the process by which activation of an excitable cell results in the generation of a transmembrane voltage (the intracellular action potential) and an extracellular electrical potential in the surrounding medium. Traditional methods for teaching how to calculate the potentials do to provide biomedical engineering students with a means to appreciate the progressive nature of the generation of the extracellular potential as the intracellular potential propagates along the fiber. The objective of this paper is to propose a new approach, based on electrostatic theory, to teach students the basics of the formation of the intra- and extra-cellular potential around a fiber. The paper reports on the application and testing of this approach, which is demonstrated to enhance the ability of students to predict the shape (waveform) of the extracellular potential at different electrode positions relative to the fiber. In addition, the new approach helps students to create a mental picture of bioelectrical potentials in the context of the biological structures in which they occur and interact. The paper also emphasizes the necessity of considering the spatial profile of the intracellular potential, in conjunction with its temporal profile, for a correct interpretation of the amplitude and temporal characteristics of extracellular potentials.

• 出版日期2012