Question

Describe the role of voltage gated sodium channels in action potentials that travel along the sarcolemma.

Answer 1

after the neuron becomes stimulated. The sodium voltage gated channel  begin to open and the membrane potential begins to slowly depolarises and sodium enters the cell down its concentration gradient. All the voltage-gated Sodium channels open when the membrane potential reaches around -55 mV and there's a large influx of Sodium, causing a sharp rise in voltage. As the potential nears +30mV, the rate of depolarisation slows down as the voltage-gated Sodium channels become saturated and inactivate, preventing further sodium ions from entering the cell.