Physiology of Voltage and Concentration Gradients

Flashcards focused on key vocabulary terms and concepts related to the physiology of voltage and concentration gradients.

Independence of flows of electrolytes

The concept that the transport of solutes into and out of cells occurs simultaneously and independently.

Pump/Leak Concept

A model describing how electrolytes are actively pumped and passively leaked across cell membranes.

Electrical Driving Force

The force exerted by the voltage across a membrane that influences the movement of charged particles.

Chemical Driving Force

The force that drives the movement of solutes based on concentration gradients across a membrane.

K+ electrochemical equilibrium potential

The potential at which the net movement of potassium ions across a membrane is zero, influenced by concentration gradients.

Electrochemical driving forces

The combined effect of electrical and concentration gradients acting on a specific ion species.

Equilibrium

A state reached when the concentration gradient and electrical gradient for an ion are balanced, resulting in no net movement.

Em

The electrochemical equilibrium potential for an ion species, influenced by the concentration of the ion inside and outside the cell.

Concentration Gradient

The difference in concentration of a substance across a space, directing the movement from high to low concentration.

Electrolytes

Mineral compounds that dissociate into ions in solution and are critical for many biological processes.