Length constant
# Length constant

In neurobiology, the length constant (λ) is a mathematical constant used to quantify the distance that a graded electric potential will travel along a neurite via passive electrical conduction. The greater the value of the length constant, the farther the potential will travel. A large length constant can contribute to spatial summation—the electrical addition of one potential with potentials from adjacent areas of the cell.

The length constant can be defined as:

    $\lambda ={\sqrt {\frac {r_{m}}{r_{i}+r_{o}}}}$

where $r_m$ is the membrane resistance (the force that impedes the flow of electric current from the outside of the membrane to the inside, and vice versa), $r_i$ is the axial resistance (the force that impedes current flow through the axoplasm, parallel to the membrane), and $r_o$ is the extracellular resistance (the force that impedes current flow through the extracellular fluid, parallel to the membrane). In calculation, the effects of $r_o$ are negligible, so the equation is typically expressed as:

    $\lambda ={\sqrt {\frac {r_{m}}{r_{i}}}}$

The membrane resistance is a function of the number of open ion channels, and the axial resistance is generally a function of the diameter of the axon. The greater the number of open channels, the lower the $r_m.$ The greater the diameter of the axon, the lower the $r_i.$

The length constant is used to describe the rise of potential difference across the membrane

    $V(x)=V_{\max }\left(1-e^{-x/\lambda }\right)$

The fall of voltage can be expressed as:

    $V(x)=V_{\max }e^{-x/\lambda }$

Where voltage, V, is measured in millivolts, x is distance from the start of the potential (in millimeters), and λ is the length constant (in millimeters).

$V_{max}$ is defined as the maximum voltage attained in the action potential, where:

    $V_{\max }=r_{m}I$

where $r_m$ is the resistance across the membrane and I is the current flow.

Setting for x = λ for the rise of voltage sets V(x) equal to .63 $V_{max}.$ This means that the length constant is the distance at which 63% of $V_{max}$ has been reached during the rise of voltage.

Setting for x = λ for the fall of voltage sets V(x) equal to .37 $V_{max},$ meaning that the length constant is the distance at which 37% of $V_{max}$ has been reached during the fall of voltage.

## By resistivity

Expressed with resistivity rather than resistance, the constant λ is (with negligible $r_o):$

    $\lambda ={\sqrt {\frac {r\rho _{m}}{2\rho _{i}}}}$

Where $r$ is the radius of the neuron.

The radius and number 2 come from these equations:

* $r_{m}={\frac {\rho _{m}}{2\pi r}}$
* $r_{i}={\frac {\rho _{i}}{\pi r^{2}}}$

Expressed in this way, it can be seen that the length constant increases with increasing radius of the neuron.

