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A-Level Biology OCR A

Period Refractory Action Define Explain Importance Conduction Potential

The refractory period is a brief time after an action potential during which the axon membrane cannot be excited again, due to the inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels. This ensures unidirectional and non-overlapping impulse conduction.

The refractory period is a brief time after an action potential during which the axon membrane cannot be excited again, due to the inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels. This ensures unidirectional and non-overlapping impulse conduction.

Front Define refractory period & explain its importance for conduction of action potential.
Back Refractory period - short period of time where an axon cannot be excited again
  • During it, voltage-gated sodium ion channels remain closed
  • Important bc it ensures the action potentials are unidirectional & that they do not overlap (occur as discrete impulses)

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