Question

During the ______ _________ of an action potential, voltage-gated potassium channels are open and the voltage-gated sodium channels are inactivated or closed.

Answer 1

Answer:

Repolarization

Explanation:

Complete repolarization is achieved by the sodium pump. This actively pumps all the Na+ ti the outside and all the K+ to the inside. The pump requires energy in the form of ATP and is inhibited by metabolic poisons. Entry of Na+ is immediately followed by an increase in the permeability of the membrane to K+. These diffuse rapidly to the outside due to the concentration gradient. Being positively charged, the K+ reverses the polarity of the membrane making the outside positive.