5 Questions
What is the resting membrane potential?
The electrical potential difference across the plasma membrane of an excitable cell under resting conditions
What maintains the resting membrane potential?
A buildup of negative ions in the cytosol and positive ions in the extracellular fluid
What is measured in volts or millivolts?
Potential energy
What happens to the membrane potential if there is a greater difference in charge across the membrane?
It becomes larger
What is the significance of the separation of positive and negative electrical charges across the membrane?
It forms resting membrane potential
Study Notes
Resting Membrane Potential
- Resting membrane potential is the electrical potential difference across the cell membrane when the cell is not actively transmitting a signal, typically around -70 millivolts (mV).
- It is maintained by a higher concentration of potassium ions (K+) inside the cell and a higher concentration of sodium ions (Na+) outside the cell.
- The negative resting membrane potential is due to a slight excess of negative charges inside the cell compared to outside.
Electrophysiology
- The electrical potential difference across the cell membrane is measured in volts (V) or millivolts (mV).
- A greater difference in electrical charge across the membrane affects the membrane potential, making it more negative or positive depending on the direction of the charge shift.
Significance of Charge Separation
- The separation of positive and negative electrical charges across the membrane is crucial for generating electrical impulses, enabling cells to communicate and transmit signals.
Test your knowledge of neurophysiology with this quiz covering resting membrane potential, action potential, and synaptic transmission. Explore the factors that maintain resting membrane potential and the phases of an action potential, as well as how action potentials are propagated and the role of synapses in signal transmission.
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