Resting And Action Potential Flashcards
What type of directionality does signal flow have?
Unidirectionality
What two features facilitate rapid communication between cells located far away in the body?
high degree of morphological and functional asymmetry
How to neurons excite?
Electrically and chemically
What makes neurons excitable?
the flow of specific inorganic ions through ion channels
What creates a potential difference across the membrane?
A change in charge between the ions
What is the potential difference caused by the flow of ions called?
Membrane potential
What is a resting potential?
What is the typical resting potential?
~ -70mV
What maintains the resting potential of a neuron?
sodium potassium pump
What is the sodium to potassium ratio that creates an electrochemical gradient in the sodium potassium pump?
3 Na+ ions out for every 2 K+ ions in
What part of the neuron is negatively charged and which part is positively charged?
interior of cell (-), exterior (+)
What are voltage gated ion channels categorized under?
A class of transmembrane proteins
How are voltage-gated ion channels activated?
activated by changes in the electrical membrane potential near the channel
What regulates the opening and closing of channel proteins?
The alteration of the conformation of channel proteins due to membrane potential.
What are action potentials?
the rapid changes in charge across the membrane that occur when a neuron is firing
