HTHSCI 1H06 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Tetany, Skeletal Muscle, Extracellular Fluid
29 Mar 2018
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How is potential energy created: potential should really be called potential difference, potential difference: refers to a separation of electric charge. The electrical charges are attached to each other; there is a force between them and this force has the potential to do the work. There is potential energy due to the difference in distribution of electrical charges. Membrane potential: when there is a potential difference existing across the cell membrane: we measure the potential difference volts. The greater the amount of charge separation, the greater the amount of volts: because the potential different is so small, we use units of millivolts (1/1000 of a volt). Where is there only a little difference in charge: across the plasma membrane of cells there are different concentrations of ions as well as charges on proteins (typically negatively charged). Ions include: cations (na+, k+, ca2+) and anions (cl1-).
