TEACHING NERVE CONDUCTION TO UNDERGRADUATES: THE "TRAVELING FLAME" ANALOGY
RE-VISITED.
SABYASACHI S. SIRCAR, OM P. TANDON.
Department of Physiology, University College of Medical Sciences, Shahdara,
Delhi-110095, INDIA.
APStracts 2:0008S, 1995.
ABSTRACT
A familiar analogy to the propagation of the electric wave in a nerve lies in
the burning of a cigarette. This analogy, which has persisted through several
editions of popular textbooks of physiology, has never been elaborated beyond
a cursory mention. In this article the analogy is re-invoked and refined to
explain the cable properties of nerve, saltatory conduction and some other
factors affecting nerve conduction velocity. Experience in lecture classes and
feedback obtained through class tests indicate that the analogy, if suitably
elaborated and judiciously applied, can increase the retention of the subject
by the students.
Received 11 November 1995; accepted in final form 4 January 1996.
APS Manuscript Number S0015.
Article publication pending Advances in Physiology Education.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 20 March 96