5 Questions
What is the resting membrane potential of a nerve fiber?
-90 mV
What are the main factors influencing the magnitude of the resting membrane potential?
Differences in specific ion concentrations and membrane permeabilities
What type of cells are capable of generating rapidly changing electrochemical impulses at their membranes?
Nerve and muscle cells
How is the resting membrane potential measured in a nerve fiber?
With a microelectrode, one inside the nerve fiber and the other outside
What is another term for the resting membrane potential?
Transmembrane potential
Study Notes
Nerve Fiber Membrane Potential
- The resting membrane potential of a nerve fiber is approximately -70 millivolts (mV).
- The main factors influencing the magnitude of the resting membrane potential include the concentration gradients of ions (such as potassium, sodium, and chloride) across the cell membrane and the permeability of the membrane to these ions.
Excitable Cells
- Excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells, are capable of generating rapidly changing electrochemical impulses at their membranes.
Measuring Resting Membrane Potential
- The resting membrane potential is typically measured in a nerve fiber using microelectrodes, which are thin Glass tubes filled with a conductive solution that can record the electrical activity of the cell.
Alternative Term
- The resting membrane potential is also referred to as the resting potential.
Test your knowledge of membrane potential with this quiz. Explore the measurement and significance of electrical potentials across cell membranes, particularly in nerve and muscle cells.
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