What state must a nerve reach for the conduction of the impulse to occur?

For a nerve to effectively conduct an impulse, it must reach a depolarized state. This process involves a transient change in the electrical charge across the nerve cell membrane. When a nerve is stimulated, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to flow into the cell. This influx of positive ions leads to depolarization, where the inside of the neuron becomes less negative compared to the outside. If the depolarization reaches a certain threshold level, an action potential is generated, allowing the nerve impulse to travel along the axon.

The depolarized state is crucial as it initiates the sequence of events necessary for nerve signal propagation, including the opening of adjacent sodium channels, leading to the wave of depolarization that defines the impulse. Hence, reaching this state is essential for neural communication and overall nervous system function.