Action potential as a pressure pulse propagating in the axoplasm

2009/05/11 by M. Rvachev, Rvachev, Marat M.
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · #Biological Physics (physics.bio-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior #Neuroscience and Neural Engineering #Photoreceptor and optogenetics research

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0905.1683

openalex publication_date 2009/05/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

We suggest that the propagation of the action potential is driven by a pressure pulse propagating in the axoplasm along the axon length. The pressure pulse mechanically activates Na ion channels embedded in the axon membrane. This activation initiates the development of a local membrane voltage spike, as in the Hodgkin-Huxley model of the action potential. Extracellular Ca ions influxing during the voltage spike trigger a mechanism that amplifies the pressure pulse and therefore prevents its viscous decay. The model is able to explain a number of phenomena that are unexplained within the Hodgkin-Huxley framework: the Meyer-Overton rule for the effectiveness of anesthetics, as well as various mechanical, optical and thermodynamic phenomena accompanying the action potential. The model correctly predicts the velocity of propagation of the nerve impulse, including its dependence on axon diameter, degree of myelination and temperature.

Citations

• A quantitative description of membrane current and its application to conduction and excitation in nerve
• CONDUCTION VELOCITY AND DIAMETER OF NERVE FIBERS

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