Question

Explain how active transport helps a nerve cell maintain its resting potential.

Answer 1

Active transport helps a nerve cell maintain its resting potential through depolarization of cell membrane.

Further Explanation:

An action potential, according to physiology, takes place when the membrane potential of cell situation abruptly falls and rises. This causes depolarization which then results in depolarization to the adjacent cells. Action potential occur in many cells of animal cells which involve endocrine cells, muscle cells, and glomus cells.

It is accelerated by the special kinds of voltage-gated ion channels which are present within the plasma membrane of the cell. These channels slam when the potential is close to the negative resting potential of the cell, however, they immediately start to activate if the membrane potential rise to a closely defined threshold voltage. This causes depolarization of the transmembrane potential.

When these channels open, they permit the sodium ions to flow inside and cause a change in the electrochemical gradient that in turn generates an elevation in the membrane potential. This then results in more channels to open and thereby, generating a higher electric current through the cell membrane. The movement of sodium ions inside the cell causes a change in membrane polarity and also inactivates the channels. As these channels close, the sodium ions do not transfer inside the neuron.

Action potentials, in the neuron, play an essential function in cell communication by supplying for or with respect to the saltatory conduction. Action potentials are known as nerve impulses in neurons and are generated by a spike train. A neuron which releases the action potential is known as fire.

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Answer Details:

Grade: High School

Subject: Biology

Chapter: Membrane Potentials

Keywords:

Action potential, ions, sodium ions, potassium ions, hyperpolarization, depolarization, neurons, nerve impulse, spike train.

Answer 2

Active transport is a process requiring energy in which a substance crosses the cell membrane.  When the nerve cell is in its resting potential, there are the positively charged sodium ions and the negatively charged potassium ions. During depolarization, the neuron fires, wherein the active transport plays its role: the positive ions are forced in and the negative ions are forced out. When depolarization is done, these ions are again back to normal through active transport.