NEUR 2P36 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Nernst Equation

• School: Brock University
• Department: Neuroscience
• Course: NEUR 2P36
• Professor: Dawn Good

Document Summary

Basis of how the neuron accomplishes communication or action". Refers to the electrical charge of the membrane of the neuron. Neurons are not electrically neutral; which allows the neuron to respond rapidly. Embedded in the membrane are protein channels that permit certain ions to cross through the membrane at a controlled rate. Protein channels allow specially charged molecules to pass; sodium, potassium and chloride. The membrane of a neuron maintains an electrical gradient (a difference in electrical charge) between the inside and outside of the cell. The difference is negative (about -70m v) Balancing these molecules across the neuronal membrane produces the potential for action" (action potential) Forces that maintain the resting potential: electrical (electrostatic) gradient: difference in the electrical charge across the membrane, concentration (osmotic) gradient: difference in the number of ions on inside and outside the membrane. If electrostatic and osmotic forces are balanced when system reaches dynamic equilibrium, we can predict/assess the voltage/potential of the neuron;