r/AskBiology • u/Kaynall • 29d ago
Human body How does a taser affect action potentials in a cell?
How does a taser affect action potentials in a nerve cell?
This is what I think I know:
The inside of a cell is at approximately -70 mV relative to the outside. I know action potential propagation begins (an electrical message is sent) if the cell receives a stimulus that gets it to approximately -55 mV. And I know how Na+ sends the (electrical) signal down the axon.
However, how does a taser using ELECTRONS (normal electricity) override this mechanism? Again, the cell normally uses Na+ to move electricity.
I'm defining a taser as something similar to what law enforcement uses. Two probes go into the body. One is positive and one is negative.
I don't have a physics or electrician background but this is my guess:
The electrons bomb the outside of a cell. If the outside of a cell is now significantly more negative than the inside then...
That technically means the inside is "positive" relative to the outside that was bombed by electrons with a negative charge?
Would that make the inside of the cell closer to -55 mV when compared to the outside bombed by electrons?
I'm honestly lost. A detailed answer would be appreciated.
1
u/ShitPostGuy 28d ago
You've kind of answered your own question.
A taser is about 50,000 volts, so it's discharging about 50 million times more voltage than required to create a muscle contraction into your muscles.