ACTIONPOTENTIAL

Action potential

In physiology, an action potential is a short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory. Action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, called excitable cells, which include neurons, muscle cells, and endocrine cells, as well as in some plant cells. In neurons, they play a central role in cell-to-cell communication. In other types of cells, their main function is to activate intracellular processes. In muscle cells, for example, an action potential is the first step in the chain of events leading to contraction. In beta cells of the pancreas, they provoke release of ...

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action potential

Noun

  1. A short term change in the electrical potential that travels along a cell such as a nerve or muscle fiber.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: action potential
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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