Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells - Electrochemical equilibrium in an environment with more than one permeant ion

7 important questions on Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells - Electrochemical equilibrium in an environment with more than one permeant ion

In what way does the Goldman Equation differ from the Nernst equation?

It considers the permeability of K+, Na+, and Cl- at room temperature.

What does the Goldman equation?

Vm = 58 log (Pk[K]out + Pna[Na]out + Pcl[Cl]in / Pk[K}in + Pna[Na]in + Pcl[Cl]out)

What do the symboled of the Goldman equation mean?

  • V is the voltage across the membrane (the inside compartment, relative to the reference outside compartment).
  • Px indicates the permeability of the membrane to each ion of interest.
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-log(A/B) is the same as:

Log(B/A)

What would the potential be when K+ and Na+ were equally permeant?

The potential would be 0 mV.

What happens with the Pk and Pia in the resting state of a neuron?

The Pk of the neuronal plasma membrane is much higher than Pna.

What happens when the membrane potential is depolarized (by synaptic action for example)?

The Pna increases. This causes the membrane potential to become even more positive, leading to an action potential.

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