Nerve cell signaling Resting potential How does the Na+/K+ pump help create the

Question

Nerve cell signaling

Resting potential

How does the Na+/K+ pump help create the resting potential?

How does leakage help create the resting potential? Is the membrane more permeable to Na+ or to K+? Why?

K+ gradient. Which way does the concentration gradient go? Which way does the voltage gradient go? If you open K+ channels, which way does K+ flow?

Na+ gradient. Which way does the concentration gradient go? Which way does the voltage gradient go? If you open Na+ channels, which way does Na+ flow?

Ion channels: compare & contrast leakage channels, voltage-gated channels, and ligand-gated channels.

Hyperpolarization & depolarization. What kinds of channels could be opened to depolarize a cell? What kinds of channels could be opened to hyperpolarize a cell?

Explanation / Answer

The resting membrane potential comes from the seperation of charges between the inside and outside of the cell membrane. There is more Na+ on the outside of the cell and more negatively charged proteins on the inside of the cell. This separation of charge creates voltage. This separation of charge is maintained by Na+/K+ pumps. K+ is pumped inside the cell and Na+ is pumped outside the cell using ATP. During an action potential, the membrane opens channels that allow ions to diffuse towards their concentration gradient, which does not require ATP. The membrane normally does not allow ions to pass through it, without a channel or transporter, because they are charged and the inside of the membrane is nonpolar.

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