Resting membrane potential

 membrane potential: -70 mV

Depolarization
 Depolarizing stimulus causes initial rise of membrane potential to threshold potential
 change of membrane potential to greater than or equal to -55 mV causes the opening of
voltage-gated Na+ channels
o Increased membrane permeability to Na+
o Increased flow of Na+ into the cell
 membrane potential becomes less negative

Overshoot:
 action potential surpasses zero and reaches positive mV

Repolarization
 Opening of voltage-gated K+ channels
o Increased PK
o Increased flow of K+ out of the cell
 sodium channel closes
 Repolarization of membrane potential: negative resting membrane potential is
reestablished

Hyperpolarization
 slow return of the K +channels to the closed state

Resting membrane potential

 voltage-gated K+channel closes