• They are classified into 2 types: In excitable cells such as neurons, myocytes, and certain types of glia, sodium channels are responsible for the rising phase of action potentials. (wikipedia.org)
  • Before an action potential occurs, the axonal membrane is at its normal resting potential, about −70 mV in most human neurons, and Na+ channels are in their deactivated state, blocked on the extracellular side by their activation gates. (wikipedia.org)
  • In response to an increase of the membrane potential to about −55 mV (in this case, caused by an action potential), the activation gates open, allowing positively charged Na+ ions to flow into the neuron through the channels, and causing the voltage across the neuronal membrane to increase to +30 mV in human neurons. (wikipedia.org)
  • Expression and role of voltage-gated sodium channels in human dorsal root ganglion neurons with special focus on Nav1. (google.dk)
  • An alpha subunit forms the core of the channel and is functional on its own. (wikipedia.org)