channel (redirected from Sodium channel)

channel /chan·nel/ (chan´ĕl) that through which anything flows; a cut or groove.

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gated channel  a protein channel that opens and closes in response to signals, such as binding of a ligand (ligand-gated c.) or changes in the electric potential across the cell membrane (voltage-gated c.) .

potassium channel  a voltage-gated protein channel selective for the passage of potassium ions.

protein channel  a watery pathway through the interstices of a protein molecule by which ions and small molecules can cross a membrane into or out of a cell by diffusion.

sodium channel  a voltage-gated protein channel selective for the passage of sodium ions.

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chan·nel (chnl)

n.

1. A furrow, tube, or other groovelike passageway through which something flows.

2. An aqueous pathway through a protein molecule in a cell membrane that modulates the electrical potential across the membrane by controlling the passage of small inorganic ions into and out of the cell. Also called ion channel, protein channel.

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channel

Etymology: L, canalis, pipe

1 a passageway or groove that conveys fluid, such as the central channels that connect the arterioles with the venules.

2 membrane-bound globular proteins that allow diffusion of specific ions and molecules across a cell membrane.

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channel,

n a definite furrow, groove, or tubelike passage.

channel, vascular,

n a blood or lymph vessel through which inflammatory infiltrate and periodontitis proceed from a localized superficial area to involve the deeper structures of the periodontium.

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channel

in biophysical terms these are the 'pores' in semipermeable membranes through which specific physicochemical units, e.g. cations, calcium ions, can pass; the rate of passage of some channels may be much slower than others, hence there is an expansive nomenclature, e.g. slow calcium channel, fast calcium channel.

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channel 

A concept relating to the evidence that information about a particular feature of an image is transmitted and processed in the visual pathway approximately independently of information about other domains. The evidence was obtained from various experiments: matching, threshold elevation, after-effect, etc. Examples: the three channels of colour vision theory; the spatial frequency channels. See waterfall after-effect.