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1. What is a resting membrane potential? Explain in detail how resting membrane potential is established. A resting membrane potential is a membrane potential characteristic of a non –conducting , excited cell, with the inside of the cell being more negative than the outside. - All living cells have a charge difference across their plasma membrane, the inside being more negative than the outside. The voltage that is measured across the plasma membrane is called membrane potential. By convention, the voltage outside the cell is called zero, so the minus sign shows that the inside of the cell is negative. For a neuron in its resting state (no action of sending an electric signal), a membrane potential of –70 mV is usually what we can see. - In the membrane of a neuron, there is a difference in electrical charge between the outside and inside of a cell. The structure of the membrane gives it a good mix of elasticity and firmness that slows the flux of chemicals between the inside and outside. When there are no interruptions or disturbances, the membrane keeps a difference in the electrical charge between the two locations. Particularly, the neuron inside the membrane has a bit of an electrical potential compared to the outside, and the difference in voltage in a resting neuron is called a resting potential. - K+ diffuses out of the cell down its concentration gradient, but the impermeable material cannot follow, so the inside of the cell develops a net negative charge. At the resting membrane potential, there is a stable diffusion of K+ out of the cell, and stable diffusion of Na+ into the cell.
Approximate Word count = 1037
Approximate Pages = 4.1
(250 words per page double spaced)
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