ev‡qv‡gwW‡Kj BwÄwbqvwis wefvM Dept.

of Biomedical Engineering
h‡kvi weÁvb I cÖhyw³ wek¦we`¨vjq Jashore University of Science & Technology
h‡kvi-7408, evsjv‡`k| Jashore -7408, Bangladesh,
‡Uwj‡dvb:+042151081 Phone: +042151081Ex-306
d¨vKª :88-0421-61199 Fax : 88-0421-61199
I‡qemvBU:www.Just.edu.bd Website: www.Just.edu.bd
Lecture-02 July 13, 2019
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

Cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, whose main function is to control the passage of ions and
molecules into and out of the cell. The membrane is mainly made of lipids and proteins (on the order of
2,500 amino acids).

The biological membrane consists of the lipid bilayer. The structure is shown in Figure 1. These layers
organize themselves so that the polar group of each layer (hydrophilic heads) faces the intracellular or
extracellular aqueous medium. Conversely, their non-polar tails (hydrophobic tails) are in contact, form the
interior of the membrane. This inner portion of the membrane that is the hydrophobic lipid tails behaves like
a dielectric (insulator) of perhaps 30𝐴° thickness. Thus the membrane lipid itself prevents the passage of
ions through the membrane.

Again, proteins are the constituents of pumps and channels that exchange ions between intracellular and
extracellular space. The ions themselves have radii on the order of 1 𝐴° where the channel structure is on the
order of 100 𝐴° and thickness 75 𝐴° .

The passage of ions through the membrane is regulated by:

1. Pumps and exchangers

Figure 1: Cell membrane structure

Pumps and exchangers:

The purpose of pumps and exchangers is to maintain the difference intra-and extra-cellular ionic
concentrations.

Pumps are active processes (i.e., they consume energy) that move against the concentration gradients of
ions. Exchangers use the concentration gradient of one ion to move another ion against its concentration
gradient. The major ion transporters are: Na+-K+ pump, Na+-Ca2+exchanger, Ca2+ pump, Bicarbonate-
Cl−exchanger, Cl−-Na+-K+ co-transporter.

In case of any query or suggestion please contact with Md. Anas Ali, Lecturer, BME, JUST (Email:[email protected]) 1
 ev‡qv‡gwW‡Kj BwÄwbqvwis wefvM Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
h‡kvi weÁvb I cÖhyw³ wek¦we`¨vjq Jashore University of Science & Technology
h‡kvi-7408, evsjv‡`k| Jashore -7408, Bangladesh,
‡Uwj‡dvb:+042151081 Phone: +042151081Ex-306
d¨vKª :88-0421-61199 Fax : 88-0421-61199
I‡qemvBU:www.Just.edu.bd Website: www.Just.edu.bd
Lecture-02 July 13, 2019
Channels:

Channels are passive processes that allow ions to pass through the membrane under the influence of
concentration and electric potential gradients. Channels exhibit selective permeability, i.e., they only allow
certain ions to pass through them. Ion channel gates regulate the permeability of channels, allowing control
over the flow of particular ion.

Membrane capacitance:

The lipid membrane itself has a specific resistance of 109Ω-cm2, i.e., it is effectively an insulator.
Consequently, charge can build up on each side of the membrane in regions where there are no channels or
where channels are closed. Because of the thinness of the membrane, it acts as a capacitor, with a
capacitance typically around Cm= 0.9 μF/cm2.

Trans-membrane Potential

The electrical potential of an excitable cell at the inside surface of the membrane with respect to the outside
surface, is called the trans-membrane potential. At rest it is on the order of 0.1 volt. Mathematically, the
definition of Vm is

Where, the transmembrane potential Vm is defined as the intracellular potential Φi minus the extracellular
potential Φe.

Because of the resistance of the membrane (i.e., is not a perfect insulator), there will be a trans-membrane
current, Im too.

Resting Potential

The properties of semipermeable cell membrane give raise to a high potassium and low sodium ion
concentration in the intracellular region. It results a potential difference of about - 0.1 V between the inside
and outside of the membrane. It is said to be polarized. The membrane potential at the polarized state is
called resting potential. The potential is maintained until some kind of disturbance upsets the equilibrium.

Figure 2: Resting membrane potential

In case of any query or suggestion please contact with Md. Anas Ali, Lecturer, BME, JUST (Email:[email protected]) 2
 ev‡qv‡gwW‡Kj BwÄwbqvwis wefvM Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
h‡kvi weÁvb I cÖhyw³ wek¦we`¨vjq Jashore University of Science & Technology
h‡kvi-7408, evsjv‡`k| Jashore -7408, Bangladesh,
‡Uwj‡dvb:+042151081 Phone: +042151081Ex-306
d¨vKª :88-0421-61199 Fax : 88-0421-61199
I‡qemvBU:www.Just.edu.bd Website: www.Just.edu.bd
Lecture-02 July 13, 2019
The Nernst potential is an electrical measure of the strength of diffusion, as it is the potential required to
provide an exact counterbalance to a particular concentration ratio.

For an excitable cell diffusion occurs from high to low concentrations due to unequal concentration of ions
between intracellular and extracellular region.

Charged ions accumulate on the membrane because of its capacitance which produces an electric field
across and internal to the membrane. The electric field will, in turn, exert forces on all charged particles
lying within the membrane and ion channels.

Any quantitative description of ion flow within or across the membrane (through channels) must take into
account both forces of diffusion and electric field. At a particular moment, the movement of ions of type p
across a membrane will depend on-

1. The relative density of p channels,

Nernst Equilibrium

At equilibrium the electric field force (from e to i) just balances the diffusion force (from i to e). Under these
conditions we obtain

Hence,

Assuming that the concentration and electric potential gradients only act in the direction x, perpendicular to
the membrane surface, this simplifies to:

Integrating across the membrane from the extracellular space e to the intracellular space i:

In case of any query or suggestion please contact with Md. Anas Ali, Lecturer, BME, JUST (Email:[email protected]) 3
 ev‡qv‡gwW‡Kj BwÄwbqvwis wefvM Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
h‡kvi weÁvb I cÖhyw³ wek¦we`¨vjq Jashore University of Science & Technology
h‡kvi-7408, evsjv‡`k| Jashore -7408, Bangladesh,
‡Uwj‡dvb:+042151081 Phone: +042151081Ex-306
d¨vKª :88-0421-61199 Fax : 88-0421-61199
I‡qemvBU:www.Just.edu.bd Website: www.Just.edu.bd
Lecture-02 July 13, 2019

Thus the potential difference at equilibrium across the membrane, 𝑉𝑚𝑒𝑞 equals

which is also known as Nernst equation. The Nernst potential for a particular ion is often referred to as the
equilibrium potential and is given the symbol Ep.

In case of any query or suggestion please contact with Md. Anas Ali, Lecturer, BME, JUST (Email:[email protected]) 4