GERO 315g Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Aquaporin, Sodium-Potassium Alloy, Osmosis
Document Summary
Membranes and ions - construction of membrane and movement of molecules across it nerve cells communicate with electricity. In the cell body we have the nucleus. Activity on the neuron will influence the nucleus to make proxies based on the needs of nerve cells (using dna expression and rna recipes) more activity bigger (grow the neuron connections) less activity smaller. Different ions have different concentrations inside (intracellular) and outside (extracellular) potassium diffusing out, negatively charged proteins pulling them back in; creates an equilibrium (resting membrane potential) where there"s not net change in k+ concentration, at 60mv. Potassium always is the one that determines the resting membrane potential. Neurons process info in the form of electrical signals (nerve impulses or action potentials) that travel along their axons (long extensions of the plasma membrane) diffusion - random movement of particles until equilibrium. Battery example: net movement of electrons based on metal plates and acid environment.
