BCHM 210 Midterm: Patch Clamp Action Potentials
Document Summary
Patch clamp technique and na+ channels: allows measurement of the flow of ions through a single channel on a millisecond time scale, a voltage can be applied across the membrane. Action potentials: there are na+ and k+ channels that are voltage gated, k+ high inside cell, na+ high outside the cell, the membrane potential increases to 30 mv as the result of the influx of na+ when the. Na+ channel opens: na+ channels close and k+ channels open, the outflow of k+ restores the membrane potential. Membrane potential starts out at -60mv; if the threshold reaches to about -30mv, it sets of a series of events that opens the sodium channels and then the sodium rushes into the channel. Since sodium is positively charged, the membrane potential increases further positively (+30mv) And then spontaneously the sodium channel closes and then roughly the same time, the. K+ channel opens the outflow of k+ restores the membrane.
