Depolarization

Summary

In biology, depolarization or hypopolarization is a change within a cell, during which the cell undergoes a shift in electric charge distribution, resulting in less negative charge inside the cell compared to the outside. Depolarization is essential to the function of many cells, communication between cells, and the overall physiology of an organism. It is especially important to electrical signaling in neurons and muscle cells. It also affects many non-excitable cells by changing calcium regulation or gene expression.