Action Potentials and Muscle Contraction

Action Potentials and Muscle Contraction Animation

The nervous system, however, provides the most striking example of the interplay of various ion channels, transporters, and ion pumps in carrying out physiological functions. Neurons (nerve cells) and certain muscle cells are specialized to generate and conduct a particular type of electric impulse, the action potential. This alteration of the electric potential across the cell membrane is caused by the opening and closing of certain voltage-gated ion channels.