resting potential

what is a resting potential

The potential difference in electrical charge across the axon of a neurone when the neurone is not transmitting an impulse

what is the value of potential difference

-70mV

describe the concentrations of sodium and potassium in and outside the neurone

1. there are more potassium ions inside the neurone than outside

2. there are more sodium ions outside the neurone than inside

why is the term resting potential misleading

as the cell is continuously using energy to maintain a difference in change

how is the resting membrane potential maintained

by the sodium potassium pump which actively transports ions out the cell and in.

what ATPase does

it pumps to 2 K+ ions in and 3 Na+ ions out

what happens due to the electrochemical gradient

ions diffuse back down through channerl proteins.

which ions is the membrane more permeable why and what’s the impact of this.

more permeable to K+ ions as it has more K+ ion channel proteins. more K+ diffused out than Na+ in

As a result of the different permeability what is the charge of the axon relative to the outside of the neurone

inside is relatively negatively charged

At rest the axon is said to be

polarised