Unit 1: Cell Physiology

Lecture 3: Membrane Potentials

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the electrochemical gradient.

2. Define the equilibrium potential and predict the equilibrium
potential for Na+, K+, Cl-, and Ca2+; Describe and apply the
Nernst equation.
3. Describe effects on membrane potential by changes in
extracellular ion concentrations.
4. Describe the generation and maintenance of the resting
membrane potential.
 Unit 1: Cell Physiology
Lecture 3: Membrane Potentials

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the electrochemical gradient.

2. Define the equilibrium potential and predict the equilibrium
potential for Na+, K+, Cl-, and Ca2+; Describe and apply the
Nernst equation.
3. Describe effects on membrane potential by changes in
extracellular ion concentrations.
4. Describe the generation and maintenance of the resting
membrane potential.
1) Gradient
Why? How?

3
 1) Chemical Gradient
Ion – a molecule (or atom) with an electrical charge

Extracellular
Primary cation = Na+, Ca2+
Primary anions = Cl-

Intracellular
Primary cation = K+
*Primary anions = Protein, PO43-, SO42-
(cannot cross membrane)

4
1) Chemical Gradient

5
1) Electrical Gradient

6
1) Electrochemical Gradient
Chemical Gradient + Electrical Gradient
= Electrochemical Gradient

Produces membrane potential.

7
1) Electrochemical Gradient

Na+ Na+
K+ K+

Cl- Cl-

Ca2+ Ca 2+

8
 Unit 1: Cell Physiology
Lecture 3: Membrane Potentials

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the electrochemical gradient.

2. Define the equilibrium potential and predict the equilibrium
potential for Na+, K+, Cl-, and Ca2+; Describe and apply the
Nernst equation.
3. Describe effects on membrane potential by changes in
extracellular ion concentrations.
4. Describe the generation and maintenance of the resting
membrane potential.
2) Chemical Driving Force

10
2) Electrical Driving Force
Principle of Electricity
Opposite charges attract, Like charges repel

11
2) Chemical Driving Forces

Anion: Cation:

12
2) Electrical Driving Forces

Anion: Cation:

13
2) Electrochemical Driving Forces

Anion: Cation:

14
 2) Equilibrium Potential
The membrane potential at which the electrical driving force
balances the chemical driving force

Initial Na+ channel opening: At equilibrium:

15
 2) Equilibrium Potential
The membrane potential at which the electrical driving force
balances the chemical driving force

Initial Ca+ channel opening: At equilibrium:

16
 2) Equilibrium Potential
The membrane potential at which the electrical driving force
balances the chemical driving force

Initial K+ channel opening: At equilibrium:

17
 2) Equilibrium Potential
The membrane potential at which the electrical driving force
balances the chemical driving force

Initial Cl- channel opening: At equilibrium:

18
 2) Equilibrium Potential
If an ion is IMPERMEABLE,
then the ion does NOT have an equilibrium potential.

(This is not the same as the equilibrium potential equaling zero.)

19
 3) Nernst Equation
Predicts the equilibrium potential.

z = valence (# of moles transferred in a reaction)

E = equilibrium potential

…
Log10100 = 2
*If the permeability is zero, there Log1010 = 1
will not be an equilibrium Log101 = 0
potential for that ion.
Log100.1 = -1
Log100.01 = -2
…
20
 Unit 1: Cell Physiology
Lecture 3: Membrane Potentials

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the electrochemical gradient.

2. Define the equilibrium potential and predict the equilibrium
potential for Na+, K+, Cl-, and Ca2+; Describe and apply the
Nernst equation.
3. Describe effects on membrane potential by changes in
extracellular ion concentrations.
4. Describe the generation and maintenance of the resting
membrane potential.
3) Hyper/hyponatremia

Hypernatremia Hyponatremia

22
3) Hyper/hypocalcemia

Hypercalemia Hypocalcemia

23
3) Hyper/hypokalemia

Hyperkalemia Hypokalemia

24
3) Hyper/hypochloremia

Hyperchloremia Hypochloremia

25
 Unit 1: Cell Physiology
Lecture 3: Membrane Potentials

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the electrochemical gradient.

2. Define the equilibrium potential and predict the equilibrium
potential for Na+, K+, Cl-, and Ca2+; Describe and apply the
Nernst equation.
3. Describe effects on membrane potential by changes in
extracellular ion concentrations.
4. Describe the generation and maintenance of the resting
membrane potential.
4) Resting Membrane Potential

27
4) Resting Membrane Potential
Na+/K+ ATPase is electrogenic.

28
4) Resting Membrane Potential
K+ leak channels

K+ K+

29
 Review Questions
1. Knowing the normal cellular properties of Na+, K+, Cl-, and
Ca2+ ions, if the resting membrane potential is -70 mV, which
set of ions is closest to each other’s equilibrium potential?

a. Na+ and Cl-

b. K+ and Cl-
c. Na+ and Ca2+
d. Cl- and Ca2+
e. Na+ and K+

30
 Review Questions
2. Knowing the normal cellular properties of Na+, K+, Cl-, and
Ca2+ ions, which have both a transmembrane concentration
and electrical gradient that favor influx?

a. Na+ and Cl-

b. K+ and Cl-
c. Na+ and Ca2+
d. Cl- and Ca2+
e. Na+ and K+

31
 Review Questions
3. The extracellular concentration of each ion is 100 mM
and the intracellular concentration is 10 mM. What are the
equilibrium potentials for each ion?
A. V-2
B. W+2
C. X+3
D. Y+1
E. Z-3

32
 Review Questions
4. What happens to the membrane potential of a cell when
the extracellular K+ concentration goes from 3 to 5 mM?
A. The membrane potential becomes more positive
B. The membrane potential becomes more negative
C. There is no charge

33
 Review Questions
5. A semipermeable membrane is only permeable to K+ ions. If the
extracellular K+ concentration is 100 mM and intracellular K+
concentration is 1 mM, then which of the following will occur at
equilibrium?

A. Intracellular and extracellular K+ concentration will be equal

B. Intracellular K+ concentration will be greater than extracellular K+
concentration
C. The inside of the cell will be more negative relative to the outside
of the cell
D. The inside of the cell will be more positive relative to the outside
of the cell
E. Net flux of K+ will be from inside to outside

34
 Review Questions
6a. A semipermeable membrane is only permeable to K+ ions. If the
extracellular KCl concentration is 100 mM and intracellular KCl concentration is
1 mM, then what would be the equilibrium potential?

6b. What would be the equilibrium potential if the cell was only permeable to
Cl-?

6c. What would the equilibrium potential be if all ions were impermeable?

35
 Answers
1. B
2. C
3a. -30 mV
3b. +30 mV
3c. +20 mV
3d. +60 mV
3e. -20 mV
4. A
5. D
6a. +120 mV
6b. -120 mV
6c. There is no equilibrium potential.

36