What happens to cells during an action potential? As much information as possibl

Question

What happens to cells during an action potential? As much information as possible would be very helpful. I know an action potential is an electrical impulse that occurs within a cell, and when it fires it helps to communicate information to other neurons. The more I read, I just get confused about the entire process, and I am second guessing what happens to cells during an action potential. So, someone who is knowledgeable in this area would be a great help. I am definitely a beginner in this field.

Explanation / Answer

A cell has a specific and characteristic resting membrane potential oweing to the differential separation of ions inside and outside of the plasma membrane (more sodium and calcium outside and more potassium inside). Hence the resting membrane potential is always negative inside. Now when a stimulus arrives (either electrical or chemical) specific ion channels in the membrane open. This results in an inflow of sodium (and sometimes calcium) and outflow of potassium (down their electrochemical gradient). This increases the positive charge inside making the cell depolarized. When the positive charge exceeds a certain threshold level, the event is called an action potential.

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