In a reduced-calcium Ringer solution bathing a frog neuromuscular junction
PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Biophysics & Medical Physics · Bioelectricity, the senses and the physics of the body · Bioelectricity, the senses and the physics of the body
Forces, Machines and Signals, Ch The nerve impulse
Problem
In a reduced-calcium Ringer solution bathing a frog neuromuscular junction, motor nerve stimulation was repeated 150 times. On 25 of these trials no end-plate potential was detected (a failure). Assume quantal transmitter release follows a Poisson process.
((a)) Find the mean quantal content m of the end-plate response.
((b)) Using this value of m, predict how many of the 150 trials should show a response of exactly two quanta.