Nerve Cell.2

Actual Elapsed Time: 200 microseconds (200 millionths of a second)

Nerve pulses travel through the body by jumping from one nerve cell to another. This involves crossing a gap between nerve cells called a synapse. When a nerve pulse reaches a synapse, tiny molecules known as neurotransmitters trigger special structures called receptors to open. When the receptors open, charged ions flow into the cell, causing the nerve pulse to travel onward.

How This Clip Was Made:

This animation was made by first creating 3-dimensional models of different parts of a nerve cell based on technical information. The models were then animated over time to show this functionof a nerve cell. The individual frames of the animation were then combined into a video clip.Technical illustrator: Audre Newman. Animator: Richard Hone.

Related Clips:

Nerve Cell.1 - Approximate Elapsed Time: 20 microseconds (20 millionths of a second)

Nerve Cell.3 - Actual Elapsed Time: 20 milliseconds (20 thousandths of a second)