What causes dendrites to create the impulse that goes along the axon, and how?
The impulse is an action potential. Neurons conduct electrical impulses by using the Action Potential. This phenomenon is generated through the flow of positively charged ions across the neuronal membrane. I will try and explain……. Neurons, like all cells, maintain different concentrations of certain ions across their cell membranes. Imagine the case of a boat with a small leak below the water line. In order to keep the boat afloat, the small amount of water entering through the leak has to be pumped out, which maintains a lower water level relative to the open sea. Neurons do the same thing, but they pump out positively charged sodium ions. In addition, they pump in positively charged potassium ions (potash to the gardeners out there!!) Thus there is a high concentration of sodium ions present outside the neuron, and a high concenttration of potassium ions inside. The neuronal membrane also contains specialised proteins called channels, which form pores in the membrane that are se
