Why Do Action Potentials Propagate Along a Preferred Direction

question 39

Essay

Why do action potentials propagate along a preferred direction?

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Definitions:

Hormone

Chemical messenger, produced in one part of the organism, that controls the activity of other tissues or organs in that organism.

Hypothalamus

A region of the brain that controls many bodily functions, including hunger, thirst, temperature regulation, and the release of many hormones.

Anterior Pituitary

Portion of the pituitary gland that is controlled by the hypothalamus and produces six types of hormones, some of which control other endocrine glands.

Arterial Duct

A blood vessel in a fetus that connects the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta, allowing most of the blood to bypass the fetus's developing lungs.