Refractory period

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Schematic of an electrophysiological recording of an action potential showing the various phases which occur as the wave passes a point on a cell membrane.

A refractory period, in physiology, is a period of time during which an organ or cell is incapable of repeating a particular action, or (more precisely) the amount of time it takes for an excitable membrane to be ready for a second stimulus once it returns to its resting state following an excitation.

Examples include:

• Refractory period (neurology)
• Refractory period (sex)
• Refractory period (cardiac)

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