Wiktionary
alt. The act of repolarize. n. The act of repolarize.
Wikipedia
In neuroscience, repolarization refers to the change in membrane potential that returns it to a negative value just after the depolarization phase of an action potential has changed the membrane potential to a positive value. The repolarization phase usually returns the membrane potential back to the resting membrane potential. The efflux of K ions results in the falling phase of an action potential. The ions pass through the selectivity filter of the K channel pore. There are several K channels that contribute to repolarization, including A-type channels, delayed rectifiers, and Ca-activated K channels.
Repolarization typically results from the movement of positively charged K ions out of the cell. The repolarization phase of an action potential initially results in hyperpolarization, attainment of a membrane potential, termed the afterhyperpolarization, that is more negative than the resting potential. Repolarization usually takes several milliseconds.
Usage examples of "repolarization".
The acetylcholine formed by the nerve cannot be allowed to remain in being for long, because there would be no repolarization while it is present.
Both formation and breakup of acetylcholine is brought about with exceeding rapidity, and the chemical changes keep up quite handily with the measured rates of depolarization and repolarization taking place along the course of a nerve fiber.
Between the moment of depolarization and the moment of complete repolarization the membrane will not respond to the usual stimuli.
Since this happens at every point where the membrane is depolarized, there is a wave of repolarization following behind the wave of depolarization.