Sodium channel
Sodium channels are integral membrane proteins that form ion channels, conducting sodium ions (Na+) through a cell's plasma membrane.
Classification
They are classified according to the trigger that opens the channel for such ions, i.e. either a voltage-change (“Voltage-gated”, “voltage-sensitive”, or “voltage-dependent” sodium channel also called “VGSCs” or “Nav channel”) or a binding of a substance (a ligand) to the channel (ligand-gated sodium channels).
In excitable cells such as neurons, myocytes, and certain types of glia, sodium channels are responsible for the rising phase of action potentials.
Voltage-gated sodium channels
Voltage-gated sodium channels