Chapter 5 - Guyton

Question 1

Membrane potentials are caused by what?

Answer 1

diffusion

Question 2

Define diffusion potential.

Answer 2

ion concentration difference on the two sides of the membrane, ex. potassium concentration greater within a nerve fiber membrane than on the outside on the membrane, strong tendency for potassium to diffuse out, eventually the diffusion potential is great enough to block further net potassium diffusion)

Question 3

Normal potential difference required in mammalian nerve fiber for potassium is:

Answer 3

94mV (negative inside the fiber)

Question 4

Normal potential difference required in mammalian nerve fiber for sodium is:

Answer 4

61 mV (positive inside the fiber)

Question 5

Nernst Potential

Answer 5

diffusion potential across a membrane that exactly opposes the net diffusion of a particular ion through the membrane, determined by ratio of concentrations of specific ion on two sides of the membrane

Question 6

When membrane is permeable to different ions, the diffusion potential depends on these factors:

Answer 6

1) polarity of the electrical charge of each ion; 2) permeability of the membrane to each ion; 3) concentrations of the respective ions on the inside and outside membrane

Question 7

Goldman Equation

Answer 7

gives the calculated membrane potential on the inside of the membrane when two univalent positive ions (sodium and potassium) and one univalent negative ion (chloride) are involved

Question 8

Sodium, potassium, and chloride are the most important ions in membrane potential development. The degree of importance is determined by:

Answer 8

it is proportional to the membrane permeability of each ion, the resting potential is closest to the equilibrium potential for the ion with the highest permeability (ex. if potassium and chloride can’t get through then Nernst equation of sodium will determine entire membrane potential)

Question 9

What is primarily responsible for signal transmission in neurons?

Answer 9

rapid changes in sodium and potassium permeability

Question 10

What instrument is used to measure the membrane potential?

Answer 10

voltmeter

Question 11

Resting membrane potential

Answer 11

-90mV (inside is 90mV more negative than outside)

Question 12

Leakage of potassium through nerve membrane

Answer 12

far more permeable to potassium than sodium (100 times more) but can leak through, key factor in determining the level of normal resting membrane potential

Question 13

Which contributes more to the resting membrane potential, sodium or potassium?

Answer 13

potassium (K+ Nernst potential = -94mV)

Question 14

Using Goldman equation because sodium and potassium interact, potential inside the membrane would be -86mV. Why is it -90mV?

Answer 14

contribution of the sodium-potassium pump, more sodium pumped out than potassium in, causing continual loss of positive charge in the cell

Question 15

Resting stage of action potential

Answer 15

before the action potential begins, membrane is polarized at -90mV

Question 16

Depolarization

Answer 16

membrane becomes permeable to sodium, allowing it to diffuse interiorly, depolarization overshoots and the membrane potential becomes positive in large fibers and gets close to 0 in smaller fibers

Question 17

Repolarization

Answer 17

sodium channels begin to close and potassium channels open more than normal, potassium influx re-establishes normal negative resting membrane potential

Question 18

When is activation of the sodium channels occurring?

Answer 18

between -70 and -50mV, sodium channels can’t open again without first repolarizing because inactivation gate won’t reopen until the membrane potential returns to near the original resting potential

Question 19

When does the voltage-gated potassium gate open?

Answer 19

between -90 and 0mV, efflux of potassium

Question 20

Why does depolarization overshoot?

Answer 20

the inactivation gate closes than the activation gates open so sodium is able to get in

Question 21

What method of feedback is the action potential?

Answer 21

positive feedback, voltage increase opens up channels which increases voltage more and opens up even more channels until all open

Question 22

Threshold for action potential

Answer 22

-65mV

Question 23

What re-establishes the ion concentrations on both sides of the membrane after the action potential?

Answer 23

sodium-potassium pump (requires ATP, stimulated by excess sodium accumulating inside the cell membrane)

Question 24

What would cause a plateau in the action potential (prolonged period of depolarization)?

Answer 24

voltage-gated sodium channels (fast) and voltage gated calcium-sodium channels (slow), slow channels are responsible for the plateau

Question 25

Where in the body does a prolonged period of depolarization naturally occur?

Answer 25

heart muscle fibers, causing contraction of heart muscle to last for longer period

Question 26

Rhythmical discharges cause:

Answer 26

beat of heart, peristalsis in intestines, neuronal events such as breathing

Question 27

What is hyperpolarization (in the heart)?

Answer 27

increase outflow of potassium that leads to a more negative inside than normal, leading to a delay between the depolarization and repolarization of the heart control center, as long as this lasts self re-excitation cannot occur