What is a Calcium Channel?
A calcium channel is a structure in the body which allows cells to transmit electrical charges to each other. These charges are carried on a calcium ion which can travel freely back and forth through the calcium channel. There are a number of different types of calcium channels, broken up by sensitivity and how they behave. This anatomical structure is part of a family of similar structures known collectively as ion channels. Calcium channels are found in places like muscles, glial cells, and neurons. These types of cells are known as “excitable” cells. Different calcium channels work in different ways, but the general idea is that the structure is made from proteins which are sensitive to electrical impulses. When the proteins receive the right signal, they open the calcium channel, allowing an ion to flow across the channel to another cell. Ions carry a small electrical charge which can stimulate something like a muscle contraction, the release of a hormone, or the firing of a neurot
