1. plural of depolarization; the process of reducing or eliminating polarization, especially the loss of electrical potential difference across a cell membrane
Usage: primarily used in physiology, neuroscience, and cardiology; technical/scientific term
2. instances or events in which a nerve or muscle cell loses its resting electrical charge, allowing an action potential to occur
Usage: medical/biological context

Examples

• Cardiac depolarizations trigger the contraction of heart muscle cells.
• The depolarizations of neurons are essential for transmitting electrical signals throughout the nervous system.
• Multiple depolarizations can be observed on an electrocardiogram during a single heartbeat.
• Rapid depolarizations and repolarizations create the characteristic action potential waveform.
• Abnormal depolarizations may indicate arrhythmias or other cardiac disorders.