Membrane Potential

Study material for B,SC

B SC (H)
Physiology 2nd Sem

»Dr. Atanu Saha

 Membrane Potentials

1. Restingg Membrane Potential

2. Excitatory Post-synaptic Potential (EPSP)
3. Inhibitory Post-synaptic Potential (IPSP)
4
4. Action Potential
Levels of Investigation
N t weeks
Next k
• Organism
y
• Systems
(e.g. Vision)

Today

• Cell
• Synapsis
S

Next weeks

• Molecule
 1. Resting
g Membrane Potential

Click on animation website or main website (here)

• Neurons have a selectively permeable membrane

• During resting conditions membrane is:
– permeable to potassium (K+) (channels are open)
– impermeable to sodium (Na+) (channels are closed)
• Diffusion force pushes K+ out (concentration gradient)
• This creates a positively charged extra-cellular space.
• Electrostatic force pushes K+ in
• Thus, there is a ‘dynamic equilibrium’ with zero net
movement of ions.
• The resting membrane potential is negative (- 60mv)
Cell Membrane

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

 Resting Membrane Potential
OUTSIDE Na+ Cl-
K+

Electrostatic Force Force of Diffusion

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

open Closed 3Na/2K no open

channel channel pump channel channel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -

Force of Diffusion Electrostatic Force

Na
INSIDE K+ + Cl-

- 65 mV
Pr-
6
K+ = Potassium; Na+ = Sodium; Cl- = Chloride; Pr- = proteins
 Resting membrane potential:
(things you need to know)
a. Conceptp of ‘Selective membrane’
b. How permeable the membrane is to proteins, K+, and
Na+
c
c. Diffusion and electrostatic forces and how they act on
K+ and Na+
d. Concept of ‘Dynamic equilibrium’
e. Concept of ‘Membrane potential’
f. ATP Na/K pump and its role in maintaining the
membrane potential
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
 Membrane Potentials+
Na cchannels
a e s close
c ose
and K+ channels
More Na+ open, K+ floods out
channels open of neurone
Na+ floods
into neurone Active pumping of
Na+ out and K+ in
Na+ voltage
voltage- during the
gated refractory period
channels open

3.
Action threshold
2. Potential
1.
Excitatory 4.
Resting
Post- Inhibitory
Potential
synaptic Post-synaptic
(Polarized))
potential(De
t ti l(D (
potential(Hype
polarization) rpolarization)
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
2. Excitatory
c a o y Post-synaptic
os sy ap c Potential
o e a ((EPSP)
S )

Pre-synaptic neuron

Post-synaptic neuron
 Excitatory Post-synaptic Potential (EPSP)
1. The pre-synaptic neuron releases a P
Pre-synaptic
ti neuron
neurotransmitter.

2. Neurotransmitter diffuses across

extra-cellular space - synaptic cleft.

3. Neurotransmitter binds to post-

synaptic receptor.

4. Binding of neurotransmitter causes Post-synaptic neuron

Na+ channels in post
post-synaptic
synaptic
membrane to open.

5 D
5. Depolarization
l i ti occurs ((excitatory
it t
potential)
 1. Resting
Excitatory Membrane
Post-Synaptic Potential
Potential (EPSP)
OUTSIDE Na+ Cl-
K+

Electrostatic Force Force of Diffusion

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

open OPEN Na+

Closed no open
channel channel
CHANNEL channel channel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -

Force of Diffusion +++ Electrostatic Force

Na
INSIDE K+ + Cl-

Pr-
--50
65mV
mV

12
K+ = Potassium; Na+ = Sodium; Cl- = Chloride; Pr- = proteins
 EPSP
• EPSP is a “graded” potential
• Multiple EPSPs are integrated across
space and time.

• Once the threshold is

reached, voltage-
dependent sodium
channels are opened

• The cell is depolarized Excitatory Integration

Post-synaptic
(action potential) potential
t ti l
3. Inbibitory Post
Post-synaptic
synaptic Potential (IPSP)