Which of the following best describes the events that occur during the depolarising phase of an action potential?

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K⁺ diffuses into the axon - The inner surface of the membrane becomes positively charged

Na⁺ diffuses into the axon - The inner surface of the membrane becomes negatively charged

K⁺ diffuses out of the axon - The inner surface of the membrane becomes negatively charged

Na⁺diffuses into the axon - The inner surface of the membrane becomes positively charged

answer is B.

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Detailed Solution

When a stimulus is applied at a site on the polarised membrane, the membrane at that site becomes freely permeable to Na⁺. This leads to a rapid influx of Na⁺ followed by the reversal of the polarity at that site, i.e., the outer surface of the membrane becomes negatively charged and the inner side becomes positively charged (depolarisation).

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