PSY290H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential, Axon Terminal, Axon Hillock
Document Summary
The membrane potential is the difference in electrical charge between the inside and the outside of a cell. Position the tip of one electrode inside the neuron and the tip of another electrode outside the neuron in the extracellular fluid. When both electrode tips are in the extracellular fluid, the voltage difference between them is zero. But, when the tip of the intracellular electrode is inserted into a neuron, a steady potential of about -70 millivolts (mv) is recorded. Indicates that the potential inside the resting neuron is about 70 mv less than that outside the neuron. This steady membrane potential of about -70 (cid:373)v is (cid:272)alled the (cid:374)euro(cid:374)"s resting potential: neuron is said to be polarized. Salts in neural tissue separate into positively and negatively charges particles called ions. The main two are: sodium (na+) and potassium (k+) In resting neurons: more na+ outside the cell, than inside, more k+ inside the cell, than outside.
