action potential

Last updated 2023.01.06 Edit Source

• Biology
• Nervous system

When the membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls

• Na+ enters cell through sodium channel
• electric charge becomes positive (+30mV)

• at +30mV, K+ leaves through potassium channel
• electric charge decreases below resting charge (-70mV)

• K+ channels close, sodium-potassium pump restores polarization to -70mV

Action potential goes along axon, jumps to other neurons through synapses