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Ion Channels

Meaning

Ion channels are specialized pore-forming proteins that are precisely embedded within the lipid bilayer of a cell’s plasma membrane and the membranes of intracellular organelles. These essential structures regulate the rapid, passive flow of specific ions, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride, across the membrane down their electrochemical gradient. Their controlled opening and closing are fundamental to numerous physiological processes, including nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and the highly regulated secretion of hormones by endocrine cells.