BRAINCAKERepolarisation
Repolarisation is the return of the membrane potential from its positive peak back towards the negative resting potential.
When the potential reaches about +40 mV, two things happen:
• the voltage-gated sodium ion channels close (they become inactivated), so no more Na+ enters the axon
• voltage-gated potassium ion channels open
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Key terms in this lesson
- refractory period
- The short time after an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be generated, or only by a stronger than normal stimulus.
- sodium-potassium pump
- A carrier protein that uses ATP to actively transport three sodium ions out of a neurone for every two potassium ions in.
More in Mammalian Nervous System
- Investigating Nerve Impulses
- Resting Potential
- Action Potential
- Depolarisation
- Hyperpolarisation
- Refractory Period
- Transmission of Nerve Impulses
- Saltatory Conduction
All 38 lessons in Mammalian Nervous System · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics