Resting Membrane Potential

Vocabulary flashcards related to resting membrane potential in neurons.

Membrane Potential (Vm)

Information encoded by neurons through changes in membrane potential (Vm).

Bioelectricity

Animal tissues generate electricity.

Resting membrane potential

Arises from high resting selective permeability to K+ and a concentration gradient for K+ ions across the membrane.

Action potential

Is produced by a transient change in the membrane such that it loses its exclusive permeability to K+ ions and becomes permeable to all ions (membrane breakdown).

Electroneutral

Equal - and + charges.

Equilibrium of a membrane permeant to one ion (K+)

Determined by 2 opposing forces: Chemical vs. Electrical gradients at equilibrium.

E (Nernst Equation)

Vm at which there is no net movement of ions and at which membrane will be drawn to when channels are open.

Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK) equation

Weighted average of Nernst potentials for multiple ions, using relative permeability as weighing factor.

Na-K ATPase

Exchanges 3Na to 2 K: electrogenic and will contribute ~ -5 mV to Vm.