Which is TRUE About Receptor Potentials

Question

Which is TRUE about receptor potentials?
A)They are action potentials.
B)They always trigger action potentials.
C)They vary in magnitude with stimulus strength.
D)They propagate without decrement.
E)They generally occur at the axon hillock of afferent neurons.

Accepted Answer

Receptor potentials are graded and vary in magnitude with the strength of the stimulus.

Answer: B
 Receptor potentials do not always trigger action potentials. The threshold for action potential generation needs to be reached, which depends on the magnitude of the receptor potential and the properties of the neuron.

Answer: D
 Receptor potentials do not propagate without decrement. They decrease in magnitude as they spread passively through the receptor cell membrane.

Answer: E
 Receptor potentials generally occur at the receptor endings of afferent neurons, which are located distally from the axon hillock where action potentials are generated.