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1 Resting Potential: Preparation for the Action Potential
2 • The electrical signal of the neuron when it is stimulated is the ACTION
POTENTIAL.
3 Nerve Cell Membrane
• Covers entire neuron (8 nm thick)
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• Composed of two layers of fat and phosphate molecules (phospholipid bilayer)
• Phosphate head (hydrophilic) ,2 lipid tails (hydrophobic)
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• Proteins span the membrane (ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors, etc.)
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• Selectively permeable
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• Maintains electrical gradient necessary for signaling
4 Nerve Cell Membrane
5 Resting Potential
• Selective permeability of cell membrane leads to an uneven distribution of charged
molecules (ions) across the membrane.
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– Fluid inside neuron is -55 to -70 mv more negative than fluid outside neuron
when the neuron is NOT sending a message.
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– This -55 to -70 mv difference in charge is the RESTING POTENTIAL.
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6 Resting Potential
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• Why might a resting potential be important?
• - to have the neuron ready to go to depolarize and generate an action potential
quickly
( what does a stored up difference in charge across the membrane make possible? )
7 Measuring Membrane Potential
9 Resting Potential is the Result of Ion Distribution
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IONS
-Sodium (Na+) - outside
-Potassium (K+) – inside
-Large proteins (A-) large protein anions – inside (made there)
Cation (+)
Anion (-)
Other important ions
-Chloride (Cl-)
-Calcium (Ca++)
10 When a neuron is at rest…..
11 The Movement of Ions: Channels and Pumps
• Proteins spanning the cell membrane
– Specific channels and pumps interact with specific ion types
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• Pumps use energy to move ions while channels do not
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• Types of ion channels
-Passive ion channels
-always open
Voltage-gated (voltage dependent) ion channels
-open when the membrane potential changes to a specific voltage
-closed at some voltages and opened at other voltages
12 Channels and Pumps at Rest…..
13 What Causes the Ions to be Differentially Distributed Across the Cell Membrane?
1. Sodium-Potassium Pump (Na+/k+ pump)
2.
2. Concentration Gradient
3.
3. Electrical Gradient
14 Sodium-Potassium Pump
• Membrane bound protein complex
– Transports (pumps out) 3 Na+ molecules out of cell, & 2 K+ molecules into the
cell
– Net movement of positively charged ions out of cell
• Na+ accumulates outside cell and cannot reenter
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– Can the K+ that gets pumped in move out? YES, leaks back out
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– Pump requires energy (40% of neurons energy)
– PUMP IS ALWAYS RUNNING
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15 Sodium-Potassium Pump
16 Concentration Gradient
• According to laws of diffusion:
– ions move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
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• Diffusion (concentration) forces work to equalize the concentrate
• ion of ions across the membrane
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17 Concentration Gradient of Ions at Rest
• Sodium (Na+) – Much higher concentration outside neuron (inward gradient)
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• Potassium (K+) - Higher concentration inside neuron (outward gradient)
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• Large intracellular negatively charged ions (anions) trapped inside neurons
contribute to electrical polarization
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18 State of Ion Channels At Resting Potential
• K+ passive channels are open
• Na+ channels are not
• Result is a slow steady leak of K+ out of the neuron down its concentration gradient
(until….)
19 Electrical Gradient
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• Gradient that develops because of the difference in charge across the membrane
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• Opposite charges attract and like charges repel
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• Na+ is drawn into the cell down its electrical gradient (and concentration gradient).
– but there are no open channels for NA+ at rest
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• K+ is drawn into the cell down its electrical gradient and pushed out of the cell
down its concentration gradient.
– Passive K+ channels at open rest
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– DRAWN OUT FROM CONCENTRATION FORCES, BUT DRAWN IN BY ELECTRICAL
FORCES
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20 Why is the resting potential -70 mV?
• STABLE, DYNAMIC EQUILLIBRIUM: The concentration forces and electrical forces
acting on K+ are in balance at the resting potential (-70 mV).
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21 Resting Potential
