Biology A-Level
absolute refractory period
What absolute refractory period means in Biology A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of absolute refractory period
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Reference: AQA
The time immediately after an action potential when the membrane cannot produce another one because the voltage-gated sodium ion channels are inactivated.
Topics that use absolute refractory period
- Nerve impulses (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- axon and dendrites
- depolarisation
- differential membrane permeability
- local currents
- maximum impulse frequency
- myelin sheath
- nodes of Ranvier
- relative refractory period
Using absolute refractory period in the exam
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