Conduction of nerve impulse - Mechanism
BYJU'S・2 minutes read
Neurons maintain a resting membrane potential of -70 millivolts due to the higher permeability to potassium ions, creating a negative charge inside the cell. The sodium-potassium pump helps maintain this electrical gradient by transporting ions in and out of the cell, achieving electrochemical equilibrium.
Insights
- Neurons maintain a negative charge inside due to a higher permeability to potassium ions than sodium ions, establishing a resting membrane potential around -70 millivolts.
- The sodium-potassium pump is essential for sustaining this charge by moving more sodium ions out than potassium ions in, contributing to the negative charge that attracts positive ions back in, achieving an electrochemical equilibrium.
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Recent questions
What is the resting membrane potential?
-70 millivolts