Action potential:
Action potential is a rapid rise and subsequent fall of membrane
potential across a cellular membrane with a specific pattern.
Examples of cells which signal action potential: neuron cells
and muscle cells.
Sufficient current is required to initiate a voltage response in
a cell membrane; if the current is insufficient to depolarize the
membrane, an action potential will not fire.
- Stimulus: A stimulus starts the rapid change
in action potential or voltage. Sufficient current should be given
to the cell in order to raise the voltage above the threshold
voltage to start membrane depolarization.
- Depolarization: it is caused by a rapid rise
in membrane potential and opening of sodium channels in the
cellular membrane causing large influx of sodium ions
- Membrane repolarization: It results from rapid
sodium channel inactivation and large efflux of potassium ions
resulting from activated potassium channels.
- Hyperpolarisation: lowered membrane potential
causing efflux of potassium ions and closure of the potassium
channels
- Resting state: it is when membrane potential
returns to the resting voltage that occurred before the stimulus
occurred.
Answer: Hence movement of potassium ions out of
the cell causes the membrane to repolarization.