Question

When an action potential occurs, _____ gates open, resulting in the inside of the cell becoming more _____ relative to the outside. sodium; positive sodium; negative potassium; negative potassium; positive?

Answer 1

When an action potential occurs, sodium gates open, resulting in the inside of the cell becoming more negative relative to the outside. Since the membrane is more permeable to potassium, more potassium move out of the cell and less sodium ions diffuse into the cell. This means that more positive charges are leaving the cell than entering the cell. Therefore, the cytoplasmic side of the membrane is negative as compared to the outside of the cell.