NSCI 323 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Resting Potential, Voltage Clamp, Reference Electrode

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Anatomy and Cell Biology
• Course: NSCI 323
• Professor: Rose, Paul Kenneth, Dumont, Eric C

Document Summary

Membrane potenials do exist and they are negaive. Negaive means that the membrane is more permeable to k+ ions. Add another electrode that simulates a current: simulate small posiive current, simulate larger posiive current. Cell must be highly permeable to na+ during this period. Membrane has 2 states at rest vs during acion potenial. Method: decreased concentraion of na+ outside and re-simulated the current, restored normal [na+] outside and simulated the current. Result: lower acion potenial peak than control, peak returns to normal height. At the peak of the acion potenial, the membrane is primarily permeable to na+ ions. Na+ concentraion determines the peak of the acion potenial. Progressively increased outside [na+] and simulated acion potenials. Acion potenial amplitude depends on concentraion of na+ Resing membrane potenial does not change very much. Nova zhao them and sends a signal to the voltage ampliier: voltage ampliier generates a current which is injected in the axon via another electrode.