STEPS INVOLVED IN THE TRIGGERING AND GENERATION OF ACTION POTENTIALS

There are basically 3 steps involved in the triggering and generation of action potential;
  1. Generation of  end plate potential; This occurs after the acetycholine has attached to its receptor and now stimulates the opening of certain chemically gated Na/ K channels allowing the movement of these ions. More of the Na ions move into the cell causing a change in potential. this local depolarization established is called an end plate potential
  2. Depolarization; This stage involves the generation and propagation of action potential. the end plate potential stimulates the opening of certain voltage gated Na channels leading to the influx of more Na ion  increasingly until certain voltage - the threshold voltage has been overcomed and action potential is generated. This action potential is propagated in all direction stimulating futher opening of other voltage gated Na channels 
  3. Repolarization; This stage involves the restoring of the sarcolemma to its normal polarized state. This is done by opening the voltage gated Kchannels to allow K ions flow out to balance the excess influx of Na ion now inside. 
 

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