PSL300H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Resting Potential, Membrane Potential, Active Transport
Document Summary
Resting membrane potential = membrane potential: electrical gradient between ecf and. Icf: resting part of name comes from the fact that this electrical gradient is seen in all living cells, even those who appear to be without electrical activity. In resting cells, membrane potential has reached a stead state and is not changing: potential means electrical gradient created from active transport of ions is a form of stored energy. When oppositely charged molecules come together, they release energy that can be used to do work, like opening voltage-gated membrane channels and sending electrical signals: difference means there are different electrical charges inside and outside the cell. Cell is place in solution of na and cl. Both cell and solution are electrically neutral, and the system is in electrical equilibrium, but not in chemical equilibrium. All four ions have concentration gradients and they would all diffuse down their respective concentration gradients if they could cross the cell membrane.
