What would occur if sodium channels remained open once membrane depolarization was complete?

Sodium channels are found throughout the membrane of cells and they allow and control the flow of the sodium ions in and out of the cell. If sodium channels remained open after depolarization, the ion exchange would start happening in the other direction which is repolarization. The cycle would go on until the channels did not allow the ion transfers.

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ashirnaveed825 ashirnaveed825 · Answer 2 · 2020-04-26T02:27:01+02:00

Answer:

Repolarization would occur, but much more slowly.

Explanation:

During the action potential, Voltage gated Na+ channels and voltage gated K+ channels open in response to changes in membrane potential. Voltage gated K+ channels take longer to open than the Na+ channels.

During depolarization, voltage gated Na+ channel opens up and sodium rushes in the. The sodium channels are responsible for the initial depolarization of AP in the neurons and muscles. It is followed by the opening of the K+ channels causing K+ to move out (repolarization).

If the Na+ channels are still open after depolarization, repolarization will occur because the Na+ ions will start moving out due to conc. gradient but it will be slow.