The transfer of electrical signals by nerve cells in human body is ena

The transfer of electrical signals by nerve cells in human body is enabled by

[amp_mcq option1=”sodium” option2=”potassium” option3=”iron” option4=”sodium and potassium” correct=”option4″]

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2022

The transfer of electrical signals by nerve cells in the human body is enabled by sodium and potassium ions.

Nerve impulses (action potentials) are electrical signals that travel along the axon of a neuron. These signals are generated by the movement of ions, primarily sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+), across the cell membrane. Voltage-gated ion channels specific for Na+ and K+ open and close in sequence, causing rapid changes in the membrane potential.

The sodium-potassium pump actively transports Na+ out of the cell and K+ into the cell, maintaining the concentration gradients necessary for the generation of action potentials. While other ions like Calcium (Ca²⁺) are involved in synaptic transmission, sodium and potassium are central to the electrical signal propagation along the neuron itself.

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