voltage-gated sodium channels

Voltage-gated sodium channels are special protein channels in nerve cell membranes that open in response to changes in electrical charge. When a nerve signal is initiated, these channels quickly open, allowing sodium ions to rush into the cell. This influx causes the electrical charge inside the neuron to rise rapidly, creating an action potential that propagates the nerve signal. Afterward, the channels close, and other mechanisms restore the resting state. They are essential for nerve impulses, muscle contractions, and overall communication within the nervous system.