A08 Earthworm Action Potential

Experimental Objectives

1. To record the action potential of the earthworm nerve and calculate nerve conduction velocity.
2. To generate a strength/duration plot for the action potential.

Tasks Performed by the Student

• After cleaning and anesthetizing the earthworm, student will:
• Dissect the earthworm and identify the nerve cord.
• Record velocitystimulate the nerve with increasing distances between the electrodes.
• Record for strength/durationincrease the amplitude and stimulate until you reach threshold and the action potential fires.

Student Prep & Distance Learning

Click the link(s) below for sample data and/or lesson procedure video(s), BSL PRO Lesson procedures (PDF) for human lessons*, and graph template files (*.gtl) for BSL PRO Lessons. If more than one .gtl is available, download the .gtl with the _suffix to match BSL version and hardware.

• Graph template for BSL PRO Lesson A08
• Graph template for BSL PRO Lesson A08 with MP30
• Graph template for BSL PRO with MP35-BSLSTM
• Click here to request the lesson procedure PDF - animal lessons are available by request only

Lesson Hardware

This lesson requires a Biopac Student Lab (BSL) System and the following hardware. If your BSL System does not include all hardware items, expand your system by selecting required items below. For more details, review the Lesson: L# BSL Lessons - see the Lab Manual or launch BSL; A# and H# BSL PRO Lessons, click the PDF link above to review full setup, recording, and analysis procedures.