Medical Dictionary

1spike

noun \ˈspīk\

Medical Definition of SPIKE

:  a change (as in voltage) involving a sharp increase and fall or a recording of this: as a :  the pointed element in the wave tracing in an electroencephalogram b :  a sharp increase in body temperature followed by a rapid fall <a fever with spikes to 103°> c (1) :  the sharp increase and fall in the recorded action potential of a stimulated nerve cell that during the increasing phase corresponds to an inrush of sodium ions to the interior of the cell and during the decreasing phase corresponds to a slowing of the influx of sodium ions and to an increasing efflux of potassium ions to the exterior (2) :  action potential
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