Meaning & use
depolarization
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablebiology
A reduction in the electrical difference between the inside and outside of a cell, making the inside less negative.
Grammar: Mass noun in general use; countable when counting events: two depolarizations.
Patterns
- depolarization of something
- depolarization of the membrane
Depolarization of the neuron's membrane triggers a nerve impulse.
Sodium entering the cell causes rapid depolarization.
Heart muscle contracts after a wave of depolarization.
noununcountablephysics
The removal or weakening of polarity, such as separate electric charges or the direction of light waves.
Grammar: Technical mass noun: depolarization of light.
Patterns
- depolarization of something
Depolarization of the light occurs when it scatters off rough surfaces.
The battery loses output because of depolarization at the electrode.
noununcountablefigurativerare
A lessening of sharp political or social division between opposing groups.
Grammar: Used figuratively and rarely: the depolarization of public debate.
Patterns
- depolarization of something
Speakers called for the depolarization of the national debate.
Some hoped the new rules would lead to depolarization between the parties.
Word forms
| plural | depolarizations |
|---|
Common combinations
- membrane depolarization
- Membrane depolarization begins when ion channels open.
- cause depolarization
- A strong stimulus can cause depolarization of the nerve.
- rapid depolarization
- Rapid depolarization spreads along the axon.
- follow depolarization
- Repolarization follows depolarization within milliseconds.
- depolarization of the heart
- An ECG records the depolarization of the heart.
Synonyms and how they differ
- discharge
- This is a more general electrical term and is less specific about cell membranes.
- de-escalation
- This suits political division and conflict, but means nothing in cell biology.
- neutralization
- This is broader and covers any cancelling of an effect, including chemical ones.
Opposites
Word family
- depolarize verb
- to reduce polarity
- depolarized adjective
- having lost polarity
- polarization noun
- the state of having opposite poles or sharp division
- repolarization noun
- the return to the resting electrical state
Commonly confused: depolarization or repolarization? depolarization or hyperpolarization?
depolarization vs repolarization
Repolarization is the recovery step that restores the resting charge after depolarization.
depolarization vs hyperpolarization
This makes the inside of the cell even more negative, the opposite direction to depolarization.
Practice
During a nerve impulse, the cell's inside briefly becomes less negative. This change is called:
Choose one answer.
Depolarization is the reduction of the charge difference. Hyperpolarization makes it larger, and repolarization restores the resting level afterwards.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “depolarization”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.