Nerve Conduction in Frogs and Humans

 

Elizabeth Vizsolyi

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 1989, Volume 10

Abstract

These exercises are taken from a vertebrate physiology course, and use either a human subject or a dissected frog, thus providing relatively simply alternatives that may suit your needs. Nerve conduction velocity can be measured in the frog sciatic nerve with recordings of the biphasic action potential on the outside of the nerve trunk. Absolute and relative refractory periods can also be determined. Conduction velocity in the human can be obtained from electromyograms taken from the fourth and fifth fingers following stimulation of the ulnar nerve.

Keywords:  frogs, human, vertebrate physiology, nerve conduction, nerve trunk, sciatic nerve, biphasic action potential, refractory period, electromyogram

University of British Columbia (1988)