Sodium Channel (Animated)

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Sodium channels are vital membrane proteins that create ion pathways, allowing sodium ions (Na+) to pass through a cell's plasma membrane. They form part of the cation channel superfamily and can be categorized based on the trigger that opens the channel for these ions - either a voltage change ("Voltage-gated" sodium channels) or a substance binding to the channel (ligand-gated sodium channels). In excitable cells such as neurons, myocytes, and certain types of glia, sodium channels drive the rising phase of action potentials. These channels transition through three distinct states: resting, active, and inactive states. While the resting and inactive states do not permit ion flow through the channels, there is a structural conformation difference between them.