Final answer:
The potassium channels involved in action potentials are voltage-gated ion channels that are essential for repolarizing the neuron's membrane and restoring it to its resting potential. Potassium channel blockers affect the repolarization phase and the overall duration of the action potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
The potassium channels associated with an action potential are examples of voltage-gated ion channels. These channels play a crucial role in the generation and termination of an action potential. During the peak of an action potential, after the voltage-gated Na+ channels close, the voltage-gated K+ channels open, and potassium ions (K+) leave the cell. This outflow of K+ ions results in the repolarization of the neuron's membrane, bringing it back towards the resting membrane potential and sometimes even causing hyperpolarization.
Potassium channel blockers, like procainamide, can interfere with this process by impeding the movement of K+ through these voltage-gated channels. Such interference can affect the action potential by prolonging the repolarization phase, which can be therapeutically beneficial in treating abnormal electrical activity in the heart. The sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+ transporter) additionally helps to restore the resting potential by actively transporting Na+ out and K+ into the cell against their concentration gradients, thus maintaining ion balance essential for cell function.