Ligand-gated cation channel

Definition

A ligand-gated cation channel is a type of ion channel in cell membranes that opens or closes in response to the binding of a specific chemical messenger (ligand), allowing positively charged ions (cations) to pass through. These channels are crucial in transmitting signals across nerve cells and muscles within the autonomic nervous system.

Related terms

Neurotransmitter:

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another target neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell.

Ion channel: A pore-forming protein that helps establish and control the small voltage gradient across the plasma membrane of all living cells by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient.

Autonomic Nervous System:

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate, comprising sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions