action potential? (1 Viewer)

[lozzipops_87]

ok here's the thing. i have two lots of information in front of me that seem to contradict. i have information saying that the side of the membrane exposed to the cytoplasm is negative, indicating that potassium ions exist on the outside of the naurone at its resting potentail and that the sopium ions are posotive and exist indside the neurone, but then i have info saying that sodium ions move INTO the cell when a membrane potential is occuring, so wouldnt that indicate that at rest, they occur outside the cell? I am so ocnfused can someone please explain it to me!!

 

[bluesky100]

Resting potential the cell is polarised i.e. the inside = negatively charged and the outside postively charged.

Re: action potential
The neuron actively pump Na out of the cell in exchange for K. This means that the concentration of Na is greater outside the cell, while the concentration of K is great inside the cell.

Probably not explained all that well, but this is a good diagram of the process

 

[lozzipops_87]

thanx

thankyou so much. you really help me and im not confused anymore.

 

[cataleptic]

Heehee yep, the inside has the negative charge - the negative polarises and goes to the outside during an action potential.