Question: potassium ions are pumped into the axon?
Answer: These pumps push sodium ions out of the cell, and potassium ions (K+) into the cell. ... They stay put and give the cell a negative charge inside. So, when an axon is at rest, the anions give it a negative charge, the sodium pumps keep sodium out and potassium in, and the sodium gates and potassium gates are all closed.