What are two chemicals that are essential in generating the electrical polarity of a nerve?

The generation of electrical polarity in a nerve cell is primarily the result of specific ion gradients established and maintained by the cell's membrane properties and active transport mechanisms. Sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) ions play critical roles in this process.

When a nerve cell is at rest, it has a higher concentration of potassium ions inside the cell and a higher concentration of sodium ions outside the cell. This gradient is maintained by the sodium-potassium pump, which actively transports Na+ out of the cell and K+ into the cell. This differential concentration of ions leads to the establishment of a negative resting membrane potential inside the nerve cell, creating an electrical polarity.

During an action potential, sodium channels open, allowing Na+ to rush into the cell, which depolarizes the membrane. Subsequently, potassium channels open to allow K+ to exit the cell, repolarizing the membrane. The interplay between these two ions—Na+ and K+—is essential for the initiation and propagation of electrical impulses along nerve cells.

Thus, recognizing the vital roles of sodium and potassium ions in generating electrical polarity is crucial for understanding nerve conduction and the physiology of excitability in nerve cells.