A&P I Ch.10 & 12 Excitable Cells Flashcards
Excitability
the ability to send and receive electrical signals across the plasma membrane
Concentration Gradient
difference in concentration of a substance between two compartments
What are the ions?
-Potassium (K)
-Sodium (Na)
-Chloride (Cl)
-Calcium (Ca)
What is the trend of Potassium?
higher inside
What is the trend of Sodium?
higher outside
What is the trend of Chloride?
higher outside
What is the trend of Calcium?
higher outside
Charge of Potassium
+1
Charge of Sodium
+1
Charge of Chloride
-1
Charge of Calcium
+2
General equation for calculating concentration gradients
Gradient= [Ion]out - [Ion]in
What is the gradient of..
[Na+]out= 150mM
[Na+]in= 15mM
135mM
What is the gradient of..
[Na+]out= 150mM
from: [Na+]in= 15mM to 50mM
from: 135mM to 100mM
when inside increases gradient decreases
What is the gradient of..
[Na+]out= 150mM
from: [Na+]in= 15mM to 5mM
from: 135mM to 145mM
when inside decreases gradient increases
What does it mean to move down a concentration gradient?
moving from HIGH to LOW concentration
What does it mean to move up a concentration gradient?
moving from LOW to HIGH concentration
Key points about ion channels
- Pumps only allow passive transport
-only allow ions to move DOWN their concentration gradient
-flux increases as concentration gradient increases
-active transport occurs via combination of transporters and pumps - Pumps are selective for specific ions
-Na+ channels only allow Na+
Voltage-Gated
- binding
- gated by change in charge
Ligand-Gated
- electricity
- gated by chemical messenger
What do ion channels do and what are the two types?
- Transport ions across a membrane
- Ligand-Gated and Voltage-Gated
Relative Concentrations During Homeostasis
-the millions of molecules moving across a concentration gradient represent only a TINY fraction of the molecules present in the interstital fluid and cytoplasm
-the concentration of sodium (for example) will ALWAYS be 10 times greater outside the cell than inside
What is the relative concentration of a healthy person?
the relative concentration of any one ion is CONSTANT
Neutral Atom
same # of protons and electrons
If the atom is negatively charged…
more electrons than protons
If the atom is positively charged…
more protons than electrons
Electrostatic Forces
-if ions are distributed unevenly across a membrane, then there is uneven distribution of charge across that membrane
-if ions are permeable and being transported across the membrane, then the charge distribution across the membrane is also changing
Membrane Potential
a form of potential energy created by a difference in charge between two environments
Membrane Potential Across the Plasma Membrane
-When ions move across the membrane, they change the electrochemical gradient
-allows cells to use the stored energy (membrane potential) for critical cellular processes
True or False? The concentration gradients for any one ion generally stay constant
True (if you are healthy conc. gradients barely change)
The concept of electrochemical equilibrium
-Electrostatic repulsion (flex outward)
-Equilibrium potential (no net flux)
-Concentration gradient (flux inward)
Electrostatic Repulsion (flex outward)
eg. Na+ is repulsed by the accumulation of positive charge inside the cell
Equilibrium Potential (no net flux)
BALANCE of forces inward versus outward
Concentration Gradient (flux inward)
e.g. Na+ flows from high concentration to low
Recoil
upward
Equilibrium
no movement
Gravity
downward
Nernest Equation
Eion= 61.5 mV/z * log10 [ion]out/ [ion]in
What does the Nernst equation calculate?
the electrochemical equilibrium point
What is Eion in the nernst equation?
the equilibrium potential for an ion
What is 61.5mV in the nernst equation?
a constant that assumes the cell is at 37 degrees celcius
log10[ion]out/ [ion]in
refers to the concentrations of the ion inside and outside of the cell