Which of the following ions is involved in the conduction of the nerve impulse?
Answer Details
The ion that is involved in the conduction of the nerve impulse is K+ (potassium ion). Nerve impulses are electrical signals that travel along the axons of neurons, allowing for communication between different parts of the nervous system. These signals are generated by a flow of ions across the cell membrane of the neuron. When the neuron is at rest, the concentration of K+ ions is higher inside the cell, while the concentration of Na+ ions is higher outside the cell. When a nerve impulse is generated, there is a rapid influx of Na+ ions into the cell, followed by a rapid efflux of K+ ions out of the cell. This change in ion concentration causes a change in the electrical potential of the cell membrane, which propagates along the axon as the nerve impulse. Therefore, K+ ions are involved in the conduction of the nerve impulse by participating in the rapid efflux of ions out of the neuron during the generation of the electrical signal.