Authors Keywords: excitable tissue, physiology, action potential, ions Abstract

The four basic types of tissue found in the body are connective tissue, epithelial tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue. Nerves and muscles are capable of generating and propagating action potentials (APs). They are therefore called excitable tissues. Excitation of these tissues may be electrical, chemical, or mechanical. The human body relies on the proper functioning of excitable tissues to facilitate vital physiological processes, including muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and cardiac activity.1,2

Author Biographies KK Purbhoo, University of the Witwatersrand

Department of Anaesthesia, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, Helen Joseph Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

KD Jivan, University of the Witwatersrand

Division of Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

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