Human Phys 2.2

Question 1

What does it mean when a membrane reaches equilibrium in a membrane only permeable to K+?

Answer 1

K+ would go out of the cell pulling positive charges with it leaving the inside of the cell negative relative to the outside

Those negative charges on the inside would attract the positive charges on outside

Lastly resulting in electrochemical equilibrium

Question 2

Negative membrane potential

Answer 2

Inside of membrane is negative relative to outside

Question 3

Positive membrane potential

Answer 3

Inside of the membrane is positive relative to the outside

Question 4

Why is the resting membrane potential so close to equilibrium of K+?

Answer 4

The membrane is much more permeable to K+

Question 5

Why is the cell membrane much more permeable to K+?

Answer 5

Due to the Na+ K+ pump and K+ leak channels

Question 6

What does diffusion potential depend on?

Answer 6

Polarity of each charge

Permeability of membrane to each ion

Concentration gradients

Question 7

The resting membrane potential is closest to what?

Answer 7

The equilibrium potential for the ion with the highest permeability