The cell membrane immediately adjacent to an action potential depolarizes because of
Added by Linda G.
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Step 1: An action potential is initiated when a neuron receives a stimulus strong enough to depolarize the membrane potential to a threshold level. Show more…
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Describe how membrane depolarization triggers an action potential and how the action potential spreads along the membrane.
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An action potential is triggered, causing voltage-gated Na+ channels to open. Na+ diffuses into the cell and depolarizes the cell membrane. Voltage-gated Na+ channels inactivate and voltage-gated K+ channels open. K+ exits the cell to repolarize the cell membrane while Na+ diffuses further down the axon, depolarizing the membrane towards the nearest Node of Ranvier. Previously inactivated Na+ channels close completely, but continued K+ diffusion results in hyperpolarization of the membrane and a brief refractory period before returning to resting potential. Na+ channels further down the axon open in order to conduct the action potential. Voltage-gated K+ channels sequentially close, and the resting membrane potential is restored. Voltage-gated calcium channels inactivate, preventing calcium outflow.
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Activation gates in the cell membrane for voltage-gated sodium ion channels open into the intracellular cytoplasm, nucleus, extracellular fluid, and endoplasmic reticulum.
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