Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells - How ion movements produce electrical signals

5 important questions on Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells - How ion movements produce electrical signals

Why are electrical potentials generated across the membranes of neurons and of all cells?

  1. There are differences in the concentrations of specific ions across nerve cell membranes.
  2. These membranes are selectively permeable to some of these ions.

Why what are the concentration gradients established?

  • By active transporters
  • By ion channels

What is the function of ion channels?

  • Allow ions to diffuse down concentration gradient.
  • Are selectively permeable to certain ions.
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What happens at the electrochemical equilibrium?

There is an exact balance between the two opposing forces.

There is an opposing electrical gradient that increasingly tends to stop K+ from moving across the membrane. How is this significant in two ways?

  1. It means that the concentrations of permeant ions on each side of the membrane remain essentially constant, even after the flow of ions has generated the potential.
  2. The tiny fluxes of ions required to establish the membrane potential do not distrubt chemical electroneutrality, because each ion has an oppositely charged counter-ion to maintain the neutrality of the solutions on each side of the membrane.

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