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Action Potential Duration

Meaning

The Action Potential Duration refers to the precise temporal measurement of the electrical impulse in an excitable cell, spanning the phases of rapid depolarization and subsequent repolarization. This physiological metric is critically important in the heart, where it dictates the refractory period of cardiac muscle cells, ensuring coordinated and efficient contraction. In endocrinology, the duration of action potentials in cells like pancreatic beta cells regulates the timing and amount of hormone release, directly impacting metabolic homeostasis.