afterpotentialn.
/ˈɑːftəpəˌtɛnʃl/, /ˈaftəpəˌtɛnʃl/, U.S. /ˈæftərpəˌtɛn(t)ʃəl/ Physiology.
A smaller wave following a spike in an action potential; the changes in electrical potential across a cell membrane that this represents.
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the world > life > the body > nervous system > substance of nervous system > [noun] > nerve cell > fluctuation in electrical potential of
afterpotential1930
the world > life > the body > vascular system > circulation > pulsation > heartbeat > [noun] > types of
palpitation?a1425
panting1440
dunt1768
wallop1824
apex beat1847
afterbeat1853
impulse1873
extrasystole1900
sinus rhythm1911
afterpotential1930
afterload1941
preload1960
1930 H. S. Gasser & J. Erlanger in Amer. Jrnl. Physiol. 94 248 It will be necessary in discussions of the axon action potential to speak differently of its two parts... After considering various possibilities we have decided upon ‘spike’ and ‘after-potential’... The latter term has the double advantage that it refers only to a potential and that, while it is entirely non-committal as to whether or not this potential is continuous with the spike, it covers the situation satisfactorily if, as is probably the case, the after-potential is separate.
1942 Jrnl. Neurophysiol. 5 149 Unintentional recording of anodally increased negative after-potential..resulted in the misinterpretations of experimental observations.
1987 M. J. Neal Med. Pharmacol. at Glance xvii. 41/1 If the afterpotential reaches threshold, an action potential is generated causing an ‘ectopic beat’.
2006 G. Buzsáki Rhythms of Brain iv. 90 Subthreshold oscillations, afterpotentials, Ca2+ spikes, and other intrinsic events also produce relatively long-lasting transmembrane events.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1930