how do our bodies create electricity the
short answer is chemical energy to
understand why let's look at the long
answer what most people think of as
electricity is simply the movement of an
electrical charge to move and as a
result use the potential charge we need
an energy source some of the most common
are hydroelectric nuclear solar and wind
technological advances have allowed us
to harness these sources giving us
wonders like Compu and vibrating
smartphones the energy created by
chemicals is due to the reactions of the
atoms and molecules present all of the
elements we take in our bodies like
oxygen sodium potassium and calcium have
a specific electrical charge meaning
they have a specific number of electrons
protons and neutrons those specific
charges whether positive or negative
react to the charges of adjacent
molecules this reaction is what creates
the energy needed to create electricity
when we eat or drink the large molecules
within our food F get broken down by
digestion creating similar molecules
those smaller molecules can be used by
our cells to do work this process is
called cellular respiration all of those
molecules and elements in our bodies
have the potential to create electrical
impulses arguably the most commonly
mentioned electrical current within our
bodies is the heart rhythm Hearts
contain within them a grouping of cells
known as your sinoatrial node or SA node
these cells within the SA node sometimes
called the pacemaker of the heart
contain a electrolytes both inside and
outside of the cells the most common
electrolytes within the body are sodium
potassium calcium magnesium phosphorus
and chloride sodium and calcium
generally reside outside of the SA node
cells potassium generally lies within
them the cell membrane acts as a barrier
between these electrolytes pressure
within the bloodstream allows sodium to
enter the cell causing potassium to
leave it less potassium leaves the cell
than sodium entering it the result is a
continually growing POS positive charge
when the charge reaches a certain point
calcium channels in the cell membrane
open up and allow for calcium to enter
this makes the interior of the cell
extremely positive compared to the
outside of the cell known as an action
potential once that potential reaches a
certain point it has enough power to
discharge down the nerves of the heart
this electricity causes the muscles to
contract and your heart to beat
electrolytes Crossing cell membranes
creating electrical discharges is one of
the C L ways the body uses the food we
eat to create energy and power to do
work this is why the food content we eat
is classified in calories a calorie
being a unit of energy as technology
advances Medical Science will continue
to unravel all the Mysteries surrounding
how the chemical reactions within our
bodies maintain our daily lives and
create our own
bioelectricity