Question

Explain the term ‘refractory period’ as it applies to the production of an action potential. Include in your answer a distinction between the absolute and relative refractory periods.

Answer 1

Action potential is defined as the change in an electrical potential accross the cell due to depolarisation (due to Na+ influx with in cell from extracellular space) & repolarisation ( due to K+ efflux from the cell).

Now refractory period defined as the period during which no cell is unresponsive in generating another action potential.

Relative refractory period occurs when much higher amount of stimulus than the threshold potential is needed to elicit action potential on the other hand absolute refractory period defines the period through which no matter how strong the stimulus is failed to elicit any kind of action potential with in the cell.