Unit 1 - 4 Flashcards
Diffusion
Passive process, particles move from an area of higher concentration to a lower one
Equilibrium
State of balance where particles are distributed evenly
Semipermeable cell membrane
Only some things can cross, prevents harmful toxins from entering
Ion
Charged atom
Cation
Positively charged
Anion
Negatively charged
Positive Ions
Sodium (Na+)
Potassium (K+)
Calcium (Ca2+)
Negative Ions
Chlorine (Cl-)
Ions concentrated inside of cell
K
Ions concentrated outside of cell
Na and Ca (Cl)
Electrostatic pressure
Force that arises from the distribution of electrical charges 
Charge inside of cell =
Negative
Resting potential
Potential difference between the inside and outside of the cell when one is not firing (-65mV)
Electrochemical gradient (5)
- Ion concentrations are different in and out of cell
- Inside of cell = negative
- Electro - ions want to move toward opposite charges
- Chemical - ion wants to move down their concentration gradient
- This instability results in fast changes of ion concentrations
Depolarization
Inside cell is becomes more positive