Size exclusion

Definition

In the context of the nervous system and nervous tissue, size exclusion refers to the mechanism by which molecules are selectively allowed or denied passage through the neural membrane based on their size. This process is crucial for maintaining the ion concentration gradient essential for generating an action potential.

Related terms

Ion Channels:

Protein structures embedded in cell membranes that allow ions to pass into or out of cells, playing a key role in initiating and propagating action potentials.

Action Potential:

A rapid rise and subsequent fall in voltage or electrical charge across a cellular membrane, fundamental for nerve impulse transmission.

Membrane Potential:

The difference in electric potential between the inside and outside of a cell, critical for the generation and propagation of action potentials