BIOL 3P34 Lecture 3: 3.
10 Oct 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Electrical signals are deviations from the resting membrane potential. A net flow of charge is called current. Electrical current in neurons is carried by ions. Contained in ionic solutions: cytoplasm is inside the cell, extracellular fluid is outside the cell. Neuron has a separation of charge across its membrane which sets up a potential difference. Electrical potential/potential difference work done to move one unit of + charge 1c between two points. Potential differences exist when there are +ve and ve charge separations. Charge separations are generated in a cell membrane by diffusion between 2 electrolyte solutions with different ion concentrations. Current flow: net movement of +charge per unit time (rate of change of charge movement) 1a of current represents movement of 1c in 1sec (1a=1c/sec) Conductors: are objects through which electrical charges can flow. Nerve/muscle: current is carried by ions in solution. Direction of current flow is movement of + ve charge.
