PSYBNA 4) Week - Resting Membrane Potential

What are the two forces that result in ion movement?

1) Diffusion (chemical force)

• H2O molecules moving up / down the concentration gradient

2) Electro static (electrical force)

• Opposite charges attract, like charges repel

Define electrical potential (voltage)
-Hint: it is a very simple equation

The difference in charge between two locations (inside versus outside the membrane)

Define equilibrium potential

The situation where an ion does not move (no net movement) due to the diffusion and electrical forces acting on the ion being exactly balanced.

Define driving force

How strongly the electrochemical gradient is pushing an ion at a given membrane potential.