Phenomena and Processes

Electrophysiological Refractory Period

The period of time following the triggering of an ACTION POTENTIAL when the CELL MEMBRANE has changed to an unexcitable state and is gradually restored to the resting (excitable) state. During the absolute refractory period no other stimulus can trigger a response. This is followed by the relative refractory period during which the cell gradually becomes more excitable and the stronger impulse that is required to illicit a response gradually lessens to that required during the resting state.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The period of time following the triggering of an ACTION POTENTIAL when the CELL MEMBRANE has changed to an unexcitable state and is gradually restored to the resting (excitable) state. During the absolute refractory period no other stimulus can trigger a response. This is followed by the relative refractory period during which the cell gradually becomes more excitable and the stronger impulse that is required to illicit a response gradually lessens to that required during the resting state.

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See Also

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Synonyms

24 entry terms
  • Refractory Period, Electrophysiological
  • Electrophysiological Refractory Periods
  • Refractory Periods, Electrophysiological
  • Inhibition, Vvedenskii
  • Inhibition, Wedensky
  • Neurologic Refractory Period
  • Neurologic Refractory Periods
  • Neuromuscular Fade
  • Neuromuscular Transmission Fade
  • Period, Neurologic Refractory
  • Periods, Neurologic Refractory
  • Refractory Period, Neurologic
  • Refractory Period, Neurological
  • Refractory Periods, Neurologic
  • Tetanic Fade
  • Vvedenskii Inhibition
  • Wedensky Inhibition
  • Fade, Neuromuscular
  • Fade, Neuromuscular Transmission
  • Fade, Tetanic
  • Neurological Refractory Period
  • Neurological Refractory Periods
  • Refractory Periods, Neurological
  • Transmission Fade, Neuromuscular

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Aspects Covered

5 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

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History Note

2007 (1972); for WEDENSKY INHIBITION & VVEDENSKII'S INHIBITION use NEURAL CONDUCTION 1975-2006

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Neural Conduction (1966-1971)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. G07.265.753.770
  2. G07.265.760
  3. G11.561.601.770
  4. G11.561.785

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Electrophysiological Refractory Period. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D012032. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D012032
  2. Electrophysiological Refractory Period. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q70578475