How do the sodium and potassium ions maintain the neuron, Biology

Assignment Help:

How do the sodium and potassium ions maintain the resting potential of the neuron?

The plasma membrane of the neuron when at rest maintains an electric potential difference among its external and internal surfaces. This voltage is known as resting potential. The resting potential about -70 mV indicates that the interior is more negative than the exterior (negative polarization). This condition is maintained by transport of potassium and sodium ions across the plasma membrane.

The membrane is permeable to potassium ions but not to sodium ions. At rest the positive potassium ions exit the cell in favor of the concentration gradient as within the cell the potassium concentration is higher than in the extracellular space. The positive sodium ions cannot however go into the cell. As positive potassium ions exit the cell with not sufficient compensation of positive ions entering the cell, the intracellular space becomes more negative and the cell stays polarized.

 


Related Discussions:- How do the sodium and potassium ions maintain the neuron

What is sex-influenced dominance, What is sex-influenced dominance? The...

What is sex-influenced dominance? The Sex-influenced dominance is the phenomenon in which the manifestation of a phenotype of a gene in heterozygosity depends on the sex of the

Islet of langerhans, Islet of Langerhans: They are insulin-producing tissue...

Islet of Langerhans: They are insulin-producing tissues. It was discovered by Paul Langerhans in 1869. These cells are in groups and look like islands in the pancreas. There are ab

Explain the dispersed phase of colloidal system, Explain the dispersed phas...

Explain the dispersed phase of colloidal system Colloidal systems are not restricted to the dispersion of a solid in liquid.  Each of the three states of matter - gaseous, soli

Determine the term - language abilities, Determine the term -  Language Ab...

Determine the term -  Language Abilities The study of aphasia and acquired language disorders was one of the driving forces in the growth of neuropsychology in this century. Th

List the benefits of lsm, List the benefits of LSM. Life style modifica...

List the benefits of LSM. Life style modification helps in the following ways: - Reduction of weight - Good sugar control - Good blood pressure control - Reduction

Explain the pour plate method, Explain the Pour Plate Method Isolated c...

Explain the Pour Plate Method Isolated colonies can also be obtained by pour plate method. The method involves mixing of small volume of microbial suspension with molten nutrie

Deficiency diseases-ketosis, Ketosis Ketosis, also known as acetonaemia...

Ketosis Ketosis, also known as acetonaemia or ketonaemia is a multifactorial disorder that commonly occurs in dairy cows and buffaloes immediately after calving or in early lac

What is represented by the cellular secretion, Q. What is represented by th...

Q. What is represented by the cellular secretion? Cell secretion is the removal to the exterior of substances produced by the cell for instance, hormones, mucus, and sweat, so

Can you explain metallized films, Q. Can you explain Metallized films? ...

Q. Can you explain Metallized films? In metallized films, plastic films such as those of polyester, polyamide and polypropylene are coated with aluminium to enhance the barri

How many asymmetric carbons ribose has, How many asymmetric carbons are the...

How many asymmetric carbons are there in ribose and glucose?

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd