What does an action potential graph show?

It plots membrane potential against time for one spike. Teaching figures mark rest (about −70 mV), threshold (about −55 mV), a positive peak, and often afterhyperpolarization. This generator draws that set as SVG.

Is this the same as a neuron diagram?

No. A neuron diagram shows dendrites, soma, axon, and terminals. An action potential graph is the voltage-time waveform. If you need the anatomy picture, use the neuron diagram generator.

Can I download a blank action potential worksheet?

Yes. Choose Blank worksheet on the Precise Diagram tab and download the SVG. The axes stay in the same places as the labeled figure so students can mark threshold, peak, and AHP.

Can I make a cardiac action potential graph?

Yes. Switch to Cardiac ventricular for a −90 mV rest and a long plateau, or Pacemaker for a slow diastolic depolarization. Those traces use a longer time axis than the neuronal spike.

Does this plot a real patch-clamp recording?

No. The traces are hardcoded teaching waveforms. They are meant for a lecture or review figure, not for diagnosing a patient or replacing a recorded sweep.

Is the action potential graph generator free?

The precise, engine-drawn SVG is free to use and free to download, with no sign-up. Sign in only if you want AI illustrations or other ConceptViz tools. AI file downloads on this page use the journal takeaway wall.

Medical Tool

Action Potential Graph Generator voltage versus time

Free action potential graph generator. Plot membrane voltage versus time with threshold, peak, and afterhyperpolarization, and download labeled or blank SVG.

Neuronal spike with rest and thresholdPhases, ion labels, or blank worksheetCardiac plateau and pacemaker optionsDownload a watermark-free SVG — free

Membrane voltage versus time as SVG: neuronal spike, phases, or cardiac plateau — free, no account

Trace options

Times and voltages are teaching landmarks, not a pasted patch-clamp sweep. Cardiac and pacemaker modes change the time base.

Title

Action Potential Graph Examples

All six images are exact engine renders of the Precise Diagram tab.

View:

Labeled neuronal spike

Exact engine render — teaching spike, not a clamp recording.

labeledneuronspike

Blank worksheet

Exact engine render — same spike, labels removed for revision.

blankunlabeled

Phase bands

Exact engine render — the four teaching phases on the same neuronal spike.

phasesdepolarization

Ion labels

Exact engine render — ion labels on the voltage-time spike, no axon cartoon.

sodiumpotassium

Cardiac ventricular

Exact engine render — plateau trace, not a 3 ms neuronal needle.

cardiacplateau

Pacemaker

Exact engine render — pacemaker MDP, not a neuronal −70 mV rest.

pacemakerSA-node

What an action potential graph is

An action potential graph is the voltage-versus-time plot of a membrane spike: rest, threshold, a rapid rise, a peak, repolarization, and often an afterhyperpolarization. This page draws that lecture figure as an exact SVG. It is not a neuron anatomy worksheet. Use the neuron diagram generator when you need dendrites, soma, and axon drawn as a picture.

What the traces lock

Neuronal default: rest −70 mV, threshold −55 mV, peak +35 mV, AHP −80 mV. The spike is a few milliseconds wide.
The upstroke crosses threshold after the stimulus mark and before the peak. AHP is more negative than rest.
Cardiac ventricular mode uses a −90 mV rest and a plateau that lasts hundreds of milliseconds. That is not a thin neuronal needle on a stretched axis.
Pacemaker mode has no stable −70 mV rest. Voltage creeps from a maximum diastolic potential near −60 mV to threshold.

Labeled, blank, phases, ions, cardiac, pacemaker

Start with the labeled neuronal spike so the room can see rest, threshold, peak, and AHP. Use the blank copy of the same axes for a self-test. Phase bands name resting, depolarization, repolarization, and afterhyperpolarization. Ion labels mark Na+ on the upstroke and K+ on the downstroke. Cardiac and pacemaker options match the Image-search chips for those traces. None of those modes draw a cartoon axon.

Precise SVG vs AI illustration

The Precise Diagram tab is the version for class and papers: voltages and durations are fixed in code. The AI Illustration tab is only for slide mockups. Check every threshold and plateau against the precise traces before you project the file. Do not ask the AI tab for a default neuron cartoon — that job belongs on the neuron diagram page.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Action Potential Graph Generator voltage versus time

Free action potential graph generator. Plot membrane voltage versus time with threshold, peak, and afterhyperpolarization, and download labeled or blank SVG.

Neuronal spike with rest and thresholdPhases, ion labels, or blank worksheetCardiac plateau and pacemaker optionsDownload a watermark-free SVG — free

What an action potential graph is

What the traces lock

Neuronal default: rest −70 mV, threshold −55 mV, peak +35 mV, AHP −80 mV. The spike is a few milliseconds wide.

The upstroke crosses threshold after the stimulus mark and before the peak. AHP is more negative than rest.

Cardiac ventricular mode uses a −90 mV rest and a plateau that lasts hundreds of milliseconds. That is not a thin neuronal needle on a stretched axis.

Pacemaker mode has no stable −70 mV rest. Voltage creeps from a maximum diastolic potential near −60 mV to threshold.

Labeled, blank, phases, ions, cardiac, pacemaker

Precise SVG vs AI illustration