depolarization

noun

de·​po·​lar·​i·​za·​tion (ˌ)dē-ˌpō-lə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

1

: the process of depolarizing something or the state of being depolarized

2

physiology : loss of the difference in charge between the inside and outside of the plasma membrane of a muscle or nerve cell due to a change in permeability and migration of sodium ions to the interior

… partial depolarization of the ventricular tissue resulting from rapid conduction of the electrical impulse from the atrium to the ventricle …

—Mark S. Link

Examples of depolarization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In cases where no party affiliation was given, the depolarization was smaller (0.15 standard deviations). —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 21 Aug. 2023

These leaders believe that no matter the corporate culture, executive ideology, or tolerance for issue engagement, more businesses can add depolarization skills to their toolkits. —Tucker Eskew, Fortune, 19 July 2023

Trusted information is one of five bipartisan pillars More Perfect is built upon, joining civics education, national service, depolarization, and reliable elections. —Tucker Eskew, Fortune, 19 July 2023

In any case, far from hastening fatigue, lactate accumulation in the muscles actually delays fatigue by mitigating the effects of a phenomenon known as depolarization. —Matt Fitzgerald, Outside Online, 24 Jan. 2014

So, the decoupling and the sort of depolarization (ph) of the world would lead to less economic growth, less prosperity in the world, more poverty across the world. —CBS News, 16 Apr. 2023

When the researchers counteracted the depolarization, some of the tumors disappeared. —Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 3 May 2021

Our results also showed that Facebook news use was related to modest over-time spiral of depolarization. —The New Yorker, 3 June 2022

The accumulation of lactate in muscle tissue during intense exercise partly counteracts the effect of depolarization. —Matt Fitzgerald, Outside Online, 24 Jan. 2014

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

depolarization

noun

de·​po·​lar·​iza·​tion

variants or British depolarisation

(ˌ)dē-ˌpō-lə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

: loss of polarization

especially : loss of the difference in charge between the inside and outside of the plasma membrane of a muscle or nerve cell due to a change in permeability and migration of sodium ions to the interior

… partial depolarization of the ventricular tissue resulting from rapid conduction of the electrical impulse from the atrium to the ventricle …

—Mark S. Link, The New England Journal of Medicine