PNB 2XB3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Tetraodontidae, Saxitoxin, Local Anesthesia
1 May 2016
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** pick up homework assignment during office hours. Homework answers: equilibrium potential is theoretical membrane potential it"s the voltage that would occur if the cell were permeable to only one ion. Membrane potential: the potential across the membrane (whatever voltage of cell happens to be at the time) 4. b) because there"s a higher concentration of k+ inside, k+ tends to want t diffuse down its concentration gradient and leave the cell. This makes the inside negative, counteracting diffusion tendency. At some point, the inside will be sufficiently negative that no net flow of k+ will occur. Because there"s a higher concentration of na+ outside, na+ tends to want to diffuse down its concentration gradient and enter the cell. This makes the inside positive, counteracting the diffusion tendency (since like charges repel). At some point the inside will be sufficiently positive so that no net flow of na+ will occur.
