This animation may only be used in support of a single legal proceeding and for no other purpose. Read our License Agreement for details. To license this image for other purposes, click here.
MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: A typical neuron consists of a cell body, plasma membrane extensions called dendrites, an elongated fiber known as an axon, and an axon hillock, the trigger zone that releases a nerve impulse. The axon hillock maintains an excitation limit, or threshold, which determines whether or not a neuron will generate a nerve impulse. A nerve impulse is an electrical signal conducted by a neuron, causing a response in another neuron or target cell. When a neuron is at rest, its membrane is polarized because there are more positive ions outside the cell and more negative ions inside the cell, which creates a charge difference across the membrane. Active transport mechanisms called sodium-potassium pumps carry more sodium and less potassium ions across the membrane to maintain this charged difference. Even in a resting neuron, there is the potential for the charged difference to create an electrical current. This is called a resting membrane potential. When an electrical current flows through a dendrite, this is called a local membrane potential. When a dendrite detects a stimulus, a sodium channel in its plasma membrane opens and lets sodium into the neuron. This influx of positive ions reverses the charge across a particular section of the membrane in a process called depolarization. To repolarize the membrane, potassium channels open and release potassium out of the neuron. Nearby, a sodium-potassium pump transports excess sodium amount and brings potassium in, which restores the resting membrane potential. The flow of reversing charges along the dendrite's membrane produces a wavelike electrical current toward the neuron's trigger zone. If the strength of the current meets or exceeds the threshold at the trigger zone, an electrical signal called an action potential or nerve impulse will occur. In a nerve impulse, the trigger zone sends an electrical signal down the axon toward the space between neurons called a synapse or to a target cell membrane. ♪ [music] ♪
"I have a medical illustration created by Medical Legal Art at the beginning
of every case to tell the client's story, usually before I depose the
defendant doctor. The work product and cost-efficiency are outstanding. It
is a situation where, as a trial lawyer, I don't leave home without it."
Rockne Onstad
Attorney at Law
Austin, TX
"[Your staff] was extremely efficient, cooperative and gracious and [their]
efforts produced a demonstrative exhibit that we used effectively throughout
our trial. The jury verdict of $3,165,000.00 was, in no small measure, due
to the impact of the demonstrative evidence. You may be sure that we will
call again."
David J. Dean
Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo, P.C.
New York, NY
"The Doe Report's Do-It-Yourself Exhibits program enables easy customization
of complex medical exhibits at a reasonable expense and in a timely manner.
Practically speaking, custom medical exhibits are no longer an unthinkable
luxury, but a routine necessity."
Jack S. Cohen
Levy, Angstreich, Finney, Baldante & Coren
Philadelphia, PA
"This past year, your company prepared three medical illustrations for our cases; two in which we received six figure awards; one in which we received a substantial seven figure award. I believe in large part, the amounts obtained were due to the vivid illustrations of my clients' injuries and the impact on the finder of fact."
Donald W. Marcari
Marcari Russotto & Spencer, P.C.
Chesapeake, VA
Medical Legal Art creates medical demonstrative evidence (medical
illustrations, drawings, pictures, graphics, charts, medical animations,
anatomical models, and interactive presentations) for use during legal
proceedings, including research, demand letters, client conferences,
depositions, arbitrations, mediations, settlement conferences, mock jury
trials and for use in the courtroom. We do not provide legal or medical
advice. If you have legal questions, you should find a lawyer with whom you
can discuss your case issues. If you have medical questions, you should seek the advice of a healthcare provider.