Resting Membrane potential

Why and how do we need to maintain resting membrane potential

Both NA and K can ‘leak’ throguh their respective channels overtime this will reduce the potnetial difference (-70mV to mV closer to 0)

The sodium potassium pump maintains this by moving 3 NA out the cell and 2 K into the cell
requiring energy as it moves aganist the concentration gradient

Process of Sodium Potassium pump

Step 1 – (3) Na⁺ binds to protein on intracellular side

Step 2 – ATP binds one phosphate to the protein

Step 3 – Protein changes shape

Step 4 – Na⁺ is released into extracellular fluid

Step 5 – (2) K⁺ binds to protein on extracellular side

Step 6 – Phosphate group is removed from protein

Step 7 – Protein changes shape

Step 8 – K⁺ is released into intracellular fluid

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