using an electrode to measure the membrane potential of a neuron reads -70v

the inside of the neuron is more negative than the outside and vice versa

the resting membrane potential has different concentrations of ions inside and outside the neuron

it takes a lot of hard work to maintain the RMP

bow and arrow analogy - at rest it is like a taut bow - ready to fire, resting is a misnomer

there are more Na+ ions outside the cell

there are more k+ ions inside the cell

the inside of the cell has large -ve charged protein molecules. that's why it's negative

3 forces/pressures act to maintain the unequal distribution of ions in the resting membrane potential

electrochemical pressure

concentration gradient

sodium potassium pump

	Created by Liv Miles about 8 years ago

reading: Pinel and Barnes, chapter 4