better study guide 2 Flashcards
What did Volta (Alessandro Volta) invent?
He invented the electric battery. He proved electricity could be generated chemically.
What is a cell’s resting membrane potential?
-70mV
What do Na+/K+ pumps do?
Helps to maintain osmotic equilibrium and membrane potential in cells.
What about K+ leak channels?
allow K+ to diffuse out of cells (passive transport)
What are fixed intracellular anions
negatively charged organic ions (anions) that cannot leave the cell
what role do they play?
help with the transport of gases, nutrients, and other molecules.
Why does the thickness of the plasma membrane matter? (Think about fixed intracellular
anions and what they attract)
it plays a key role in protein function
How much of the cell’s total K+ ions are needed to establish the resting membrane
potential?
-90mV
Do you know the concentrations for Na+ and K+ ions inside vs. outside the
cell?
The sodium and chloride ion concentrations are lower inside the cell than outside, and the potassium concentration is greater inside the cell (salty banana)
What can you calculate with the Nernst equation?
calculates the equilibrium potential (also referred to as the Nernst potential) for an ion based on the charge on the ion (i.e., its valence) and its concentration gradient across the membrane
Which cells are the main excitable cells in the body?
Neurons and muscle cells
What are some key features of action potentials?
-local events (occur in specific place)
-transmitted in one direction
-all or nothing (do not vary in size)
What are the three states of voltage gated sodium channels? Which of the states are ions
able to pass through?
resting, activated, inactivated
How can ion channels be selective?
They surround a central pore, guarded by the selectivity filter made up of the P-loops from each of the subunits. This filter determines the permeability of the pore to different ions.
Sphere of hydration
when a polar water molecule surrounds charged or polar molecules thus keeping them dissolved and in solution
selectivity filter?
a region of ion-channel proteins that determines the specificity of a particular channel
What is Loligo? What about this organism made it ideal to study action potentials?
Marine squid that led to understanding the ionic basic of action potentials
What is the action potential threshold?
enough Na+ leaks in for any potion of inner membrane to be + = spontaneous depolarization (“All or nothing principle”)
If threshold is met what is the probability an action potential will be triggered?
15 milivolts
Do all voltage-gated sodium channels have to open to trigger an action potential?
all of the gated sodium and potassium channels are closed. These gated channels are different from the leakage channels, and only open once an action potential has been triggered.
What happens 1-2ms after voltage-gated sodium channels open? Why would this be
important?
the voltage-gated sodium channels will inactivate, stopping the flow of sodium, even in the presence of persistent stimulation.
What is repolarization?
the membrane returns to its resting membrane potential
How do local anesthetics work?
They prevent sodium channels from opening, thus blocking action potentials
What does tetrodotoxin (TTX) do?
inhibits voltage gated sodium channel opening
Where does TTX come from?
puffer fish
What is myelin?
Myelin is a fatty, insulating sheath that surrounds nerves in the brain and spinal cord
What does myelination do for a neuron?
Insulate the axon to conduct the signal faster
What are nodes of Ranvier
Gaps in the myelin sheath
what ion channels are found in the nodes of ranvier?
Voltage gated sodium channels (VGNCs)
What is saltatoryconduction?
the rapid method by which nerve impulses move down a myelinated axon with excitation occurring only at nodes of Ranvier