NSCI 175 EXAM 1 REVIEW: RESTING MEMBRANE
POTENTIAL
RMP (resting membrane potential) - Answer -The ______ is the VOLTAGE
DIFFERENCE between the outside and inside of the neuron at rest (no action potentials
being fired!) Changes in this are how neurons communicate.
Neuron, reference electrode (sits outside the neuron), recording electrode (inside the
neuron) - Answer -What do you need to measure the resting membrane potential?
negatively; -65 - Answer -The inside of the neuron is ______ charged relative to the
outside of the neuron. The resting membrane potential of a typical neuron is around
_____ mV.
Na+/K+ - Answer -Which pump is essential for maintaining RMP?
3,2 - Answer -The sodium-potassium pump pumps ____ sodium ions outside the cell
and ____ potassium ions inside the cell.
K+, Na+ - Answer -The role of the Na+/K+ pump is to create a concentration gradient
(high ____ inside and high ____ outside)
diffusion and electrical potential - Answer -What are the two physical forces that
determine a neuron's RMP?
diffusion - Answer -_____ causes ions to flow from areas of high to low concentration
along their concentration gradient.
electrical potential - Answer -_____ causes ions to flow towards oppositely charged
areas.
Diffusional and electrical forces are equally and opposite; NET movement of the ion
across the membrane ceases. - Answer -What does it mean if an ion has reached its
equilibrium potential?
inside - Answer -When potassium ions are at equilibrium (Ek), the concentration of K+
_____ the cell is still greater.
K+ (-80 mV) - Answer -The RMP is closest to the equilibrium potential of _____
because at rest, neuronal membranes are mostly selectively permeable to K+ because
K+ channels are open!
The equilibrium potential for a SINGLE ion - Answer -What is the Nernst Equation used
to calculate?
POTENTIAL
RMP (resting membrane potential) - Answer -The ______ is the VOLTAGE
DIFFERENCE between the outside and inside of the neuron at rest (no action potentials
being fired!) Changes in this are how neurons communicate.
Neuron, reference electrode (sits outside the neuron), recording electrode (inside the
neuron) - Answer -What do you need to measure the resting membrane potential?
negatively; -65 - Answer -The inside of the neuron is ______ charged relative to the
outside of the neuron. The resting membrane potential of a typical neuron is around
_____ mV.
Na+/K+ - Answer -Which pump is essential for maintaining RMP?
3,2 - Answer -The sodium-potassium pump pumps ____ sodium ions outside the cell
and ____ potassium ions inside the cell.
K+, Na+ - Answer -The role of the Na+/K+ pump is to create a concentration gradient
(high ____ inside and high ____ outside)
diffusion and electrical potential - Answer -What are the two physical forces that
determine a neuron's RMP?
diffusion - Answer -_____ causes ions to flow from areas of high to low concentration
along their concentration gradient.
electrical potential - Answer -_____ causes ions to flow towards oppositely charged
areas.
Diffusional and electrical forces are equally and opposite; NET movement of the ion
across the membrane ceases. - Answer -What does it mean if an ion has reached its
equilibrium potential?
inside - Answer -When potassium ions are at equilibrium (Ek), the concentration of K+
_____ the cell is still greater.
K+ (-80 mV) - Answer -The RMP is closest to the equilibrium potential of _____
because at rest, neuronal membranes are mostly selectively permeable to K+ because
K+ channels are open!
The equilibrium potential for a SINGLE ion - Answer -What is the Nernst Equation used
to calculate?
