BIOL 2410 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Resting Potential, Electrochemical Gradient, Calcium Atpase
30 Sep 2016
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Both serve to promote ion movements across the cell membrane. Cell interior is more negative than the exterior of the cell. Both factors drive the in ux of sodium into the cell when membrane permeability is increased. The plasma membrane serves as an insulator to maintain concentration differences across the membrane. Protein channels lined with water behave as conductors to allow ions to move across the membrane according to their electrochemical gradient. Differences in ion concentration are maintained across the membrane by active transporters. Opposite charges are attracted to one another. Ion separated by the membrane create an electrical gradient. Charges are not equally distributes on either side of the membrane. The magnitude of the gradient is measured in millivolts (mv) This referred to as the transmembrane potential. Conventionally measured by subtracting the voltage outside of the cell from the voltage inside of the cell. The membrane potential of the cell changes as a result of cell activity.
