Membrane potential Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two ways in which ions are separated?

A

diffusion or through ion channels

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2
Q

What is the voltage at the outside of the cell?

A

Zero, by convention

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3
Q

The inside of a cell at
rest is always [blank] relative to the outside, so the cell’s membrane potential is a
[blank] number.

A

The inside of a cell at
rest is always negative relative to the outside, so the cell’s membrane potential is a
negative number.

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4
Q

What are the two forces that act on an ion?

A

The electric, and the chemical

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5
Q

What causes the electrical driving force?

A

unequal distribution of ions

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6
Q

If a cells membrane potential is negative, where will cations be drawn to?

A

Inside the cell

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7
Q

Assume that a cell membrane is only permeable to K. What will happen?

A

K will diffuse out until chemical and electrical forces are balanced.

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8
Q

What is the equilibrium potential of an ion, e.g. E(K+)?

A

The potential (V) of an ion

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9
Q

What is the Nernst equation?

A

Look at it!

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10
Q

Where does the membrane potential fall, relative to the equilibrium potentials for Na and K?

A

Between them, but closer to Ek d/t a higher number of K transporters

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11
Q

True or false: Ek changes with [K] changes

A

True

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12
Q

What happens when an action potential to the Na and K ions?

A

the membrane becomes more permeable to Na

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13
Q

When is the Goldman-Hodgkin equation used?

A

When there are several ions affecting the resting membrane potential

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14
Q

Look at the GHK equation

A

look at it

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15
Q

As the relative permeability of the membrane to an ion increases, the
membrane potential of the cell moves closer to what?

A

the equilibrium potential of that ion.

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16
Q
State whether the intracellular or the extracellular concentration is higher for the following ions: 
K+
Na+
Cl-
Ca++
A

K+ - intracellular higher
Na+ -extracellular
Cl- extracellular
Ca++ - intracelllar

17
Q

True or false: At resting potential, the cell is at an equilibrium

A

False - At the cell resting membrane potential, cell is NOT at equilibrium but at steady state. K+ is leaking out and Na+ is leaking in. This
leakage is exactly balanced by the Na+
-K+ pump that pumps Na+ out and K+
in. Metabolic energy is necessary to maintain ion gradients.

18
Q

What is the chemical driving force?

A

The force on an ion to move down its concentration gradient

19
Q

What is the electrical driving force?

A

Electrical force that ions exert

20
Q

What is the equilibrium potential?

A

When the chemical driving force = the electrical driving force

21
Q

What is the membrane potential?

A

The potential that a membrane exerts d/t separation of charges and varying degrees of permeability of the membrane

22
Q

Why can we simplify the nernst equation and not take into account that particles are lost from the inside to the outside?

A

The number of ions that have to move to establish an equilibrium is extremely small

23
Q

What is the principle of electric neutrality?

A

any macroscopic region

of a solution must have equal number of positive and negative charge

24
Q

What maintains the concentration gradient when the cell is permeable to both potassium and Na?

A

Na/K pumps

25
Q

Why is there a negative resting potential of cells when is it permeable to both K and Na?

A

K has more pumps, and the Na/K pumps, pumps out 3 Na for every 2 K brought in

26
Q

What is the toxin that can inhibit the Na/K pump?

A

Ouabain

27
Q

How fast does ouabain work?

A

gradually

28
Q

What is the permeability coefficient of the goldman-Hodkin equation?

A

how well a given ion passes through a membrane–it is a constant

29
Q

What happens in hyperpolarization?

A

Potential becomes more negative

30
Q

What happens in depolarization?

A

Potential becomes more positive

31
Q

What happens to the membrane potential if the permeability of an ion is increased?

A

the resting potential falls closer to that ion

32
Q

Whenever ECl- is made more negative than the membrane potential, what is true?

A

the chemical force on the ion is

stronger than the electrical force exerted by the membrane potential

33
Q

Do Ca ion contribute to resting membrane potential? Why or why not?

A

no, the membrane is not permeable