Membrane Potential in Biophysics
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Questions and Answers

What is the membrane potential?

  • The permeability of the cell membrane
  • The voltage generated within the cell
  • The difference in electrical potential between the inside and outside of the cell membrane (correct)
  • The concentration of ions within the cell

    • What is a resting neuron's characteristic voltage state?

  • It has a rapid rise and fall in voltage
  • It has a constant action potential
  • It has a voltage across its membrane (correct)
  • It has no voltage across its membrane

    • What contributes largely to the membrane potential?

  • (K+) present at high concentration at the extracellular matrix
  • (Na+) and (Cl-) present at high concentration at the extracellular matrix (correct)
  • (Cl-) present at high concentration at the intracellular matrix
  • (Na+) and (K+) present at high concentration at the intracellular matrix

    • Which ion is impermeable to the cell membrane?

    <p>Na+</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is action potential?

    <p>A rapid rise and subsequent fall in voltage or membrane potential across a cellular membrane with a characteristic pattern</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the membrane potential?

    <p>The difference in electrical potential between the inside and outside of the cell membrane</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What contributes largely to the membrane potential?

    <p>(Na+) and (Cl-) present at high concentration at the extracellular matrix</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic state of a resting neuron's voltage across its membrane?

    <p>It has a voltage across its membrane</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which ion is impermeable to the cell membrane?

    <p>(Na+)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is action potential?

    <p>A rapid rise and subsequent fall in voltage or membrane potential across a cellular membrane with a characteristic pattern</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main factor determining the membrane potential?

    <p>Concentration gradients of ions across the membrane</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which ion is impermeable to the cell membrane?

    <p>Sodium (Na+)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What contributes largely to the resting membrane potential?

    <p>Potassium (K+)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic pattern of action potential?

    <p>A rapid rise and subsequent fall in voltage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main cause of generating electrical potential across the cell membrane?

    <p>Unequal distribution of ions across the plasma membrane</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Membrane Potential

    • The difference in electrical charge across a cell membrane.

    Resting Membrane Potential

    • The characteristic voltage state of a neuron at rest.
    • Typically around -70 millivolts (mV).
    • Largely determined by the uneven distribution of ions across the cell membrane.
    • Sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) ions play a significant role.
    • Potassium ions are more permeable to the cell membrane than sodium ions, resulting in a net negative charge inside the cell.

    Ion Permeability

    • Potassium ions are more permeable to the cell membrane than sodium ions.
    • Sodium ions are largely impermeable to the cell membrane due to the sodium-potassium pump.

    Action Potential

    • A rapid change in the membrane potential of a neuron, allowing for communication between neurons.
    • Characterized by a rapid depolarization followed by repolarization and hyperpolarization.
    • Generated by the opening and closing of voltage-gated ion channels.
    • Sodium ions flow into the cell during depolarization, causing a positive shift in membrane potential.
    • Potassium ions flow out of the cell during repolarization, restoring the resting potential.

    Key Contributors to Resting Membrane Potential

    • The uneven distribution of ions across the cell membrane.
    • The permeability of the cell membrane to different ions.
    • The sodium-potassium pump, actively transporting sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge on membrane potential and calculating resting membrane potential in the context of biophysics lecture content PHY113.

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