L2 - Bioelectricity - Setting membrane potentials Flashcards
What determines membrane potential?
unequal distribution and selective movement of a few ions
How is intracellular sodium concentration determined?
Sodium/potassium pump
What is the nerst potential defined as?
The state at which there is net movement of an ion in and out of cell.
What is the distribution of Na+ ions in the membrane?
High extracellular sodium and low intracellular sodium.
Why is the nerst potential never reached?
Membranes are never completely selective
What is selectivity? and how is it measured?
How easily the ions move across the membrane, measured by the goldman equation
What is meant by the term electrogenic?
Anything that changes in the electrical potential of a cell.
What is electrogenic transport?
changing the activity of anything electrognic changes the membrane potential.
