Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells - How Ionic Movements Produce Electrical Signals
3 important questions on Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells - How Ionic Movements Produce Electrical Signals
What is the electochemical equilibrium? Explain the process.
The K+ transporter establishes a concentration gradient. K+ will diffuse down the concentration gradient, which causes an electrical potential. Because [K+] increases outside of the cell, the external envrionment becomes more postive. Because of this K+ gets repeled by the outer environment.
So the concentration gradient diffuses K+ out of the cell, while the potential gradient works in the opposite direction. When both mechanisms 'flow' at the same speed there is an electrochemical equilibrium.
How can the electrochemical equilibrium be predicted?
By the Nerst equation
What can you say about the equilibrium potential when the ion concentration out of the cell is higher than the concentration in the cell?
The equilibrium potential will be positive (Nernst equation)
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