Glossary Term
Excitability
Excitability is the ability of a muscle cell to change in membrane conductance as a response to stimulation. For example, muscle cells are specialized to react to a change in membrane potential with contraction, whereas nerve cells are specialized to propagate a change in membrane potential along their axons and communicate that message to other tissues via neurotransmitters. 1. Saladin, K. (2012). Anatomy & Physiology: The unity of form and function. (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Excitability: The ability of a cell to change in membrane conductance as a response to stimulation.
- For example, muscle cells are specialized to react to a change in membrane potential with contraction, where as nerve cells are specialized to propagate a change in membrane potential along there axons and communicate that message to other tissues via neurotransmitters.
- Saladin, K. (2012). Anatomy & Physiology: The unity of form and function. (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Image: Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014". WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436.