Zoology - Neural Control and Coordination Question with Solution | TestHub

The main reason for conduction through the nerve is that it is polarised. This means the neuron is oppositely charged on the outside and inside the axoplasm. If a neuron is not conducting it still has charges and such a neuron is polarised or resting neuron. Such a neuron is positively charged outside and negatively charged inside the axoplasm. Positive charge is due to high concentration of sodium ions and negatively charged is due to high concentration of potassium and negatively charged proteins. The proteins are impermeable and hence only potassium ions can move from inside to out when the impulse will arrive. Thus the axonal membrane is more permeable to potassium ions and nearly impermeable to sodium ions.