Body Fluids and Circulations

Question

During the propagation of a nerve impulse, the action potential results from the movement of 

  • K+ ions form extracellular fluid of intracellular fluid

  • Na+ ions from intracellular fluid to extracellular fluid

  • K+ ions from intracellular fluid to extracellular fluid

  • Na+ions from extracellular fluid to intracellular fluid

Answer

D.

Na+ions from extracellular fluid to intracellular fluid

During the propagation of nerve impulse when a stimulus of adequate strength is applied to a polarised membrane, the permeability of the membrane to Na+ is greatly increased at the point of stimulation. As a result, the sodium ion channels permit the influx of Na+ ions entering than leaving, the electrical potential of the membrane changes from -70 mV towards zero. At 0 mV the membrane is said to be depolarised. While the resting potential is determined largely by K+ ions, the action potential is determined largely by Na+ ions.
An action potential is another name of the nerve impulse. The stimulated negatively charged point on the outside of the membrane sends out an electrical current to the positive point adjacent inner part of the membrane to reverse its potential from - 70 mV to +30mV.

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