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The axon is polarised when the inside is negatively charged and the
outside is positively charged. This is due to the Sodium-Potassium
Pump, which uses energy from ATP to actively transport 3 Sodium
ions (Na+) out of the axon and 2 Potassium ions (K+) into the axon.
The membrane remains impermeable to Na+ ions but allows K+ ions
to pass easily through and hence this imbalance of ions causes a
potential difference between the inside of the neurone and its
surroundings, called the resting potential of -70mV across the across
membrane.
After the action potential, the region of positive charge causes the
nearby Na+ ion channels to close. The K+ ion channels open,
allowing K+ ions to diffuse out of the axon and so the charge across
the axon membrane is brought back to its resting potential. This is
repolarisation.