RESTING MEMBRANE POTENTIAL

OF NEURONS
 Learning Objectives

At the end of this lecture, all the students should be able to:
• Define membrane potential

• Explain Nernst equation

• Explain Goldman equation

• Define resting membrane potential

• Explain factors contributing in membrane potential

 Membrane Potential

• The potential difference between the inside and outside of

membrane
• Sodium is greater outside a
nerve fiber than inside
• Diffusion of the positively
charged sodium ions to the
inside creates a positivity
inside
• Membrane potential rises
high enough within
milliseconds to block
further net diffusion of
sodium ions to the inside
• Potassium is greater inside a
nerve fiber than outside
• Potassium ions diffuse
outward
• Positive electrical charges are
carried outwards creating
electronegativity inside
• Diffusion potential is
created,it becomes great
enough to stop further
diffusion of potassium ions
to exterior
 Nernst Equation

• The diffusion potential level across a membrane that exactly

opposes the net diffusion of a particular ion through the
membrane is called the Nernst potential for that ion
When using this formula, it is assumed that
• Potential outside the membrane remains zero

• Nernst potential is the potential inside the membrane

• Sign of the potential is positive (+) if the ion diffusing from

inside to outside is a negative ion
• It is negative (−) if the ion is positive
 Goldman Equation

• Used to calculate the diffusion potential when the

membrane is permeable to several different ions
• Diffusion potential depends on three factors

Concentrations of
Polarity of the Permeability of the
ions on the inside
electrical charge of membrane to each
and outside of
each ion ion
the membrane
 Importance

Sodium, potassium, and chloride ions are the most important

ions involved in the development of membrane potentials

Voltage is proportional to the membrane permeability for that

particular ion
Positive ion concentration gradient from inside the membrane to
the outside causes electronegativity inside the membrane

Permeability of the sodium and potassium channels

undergoes rapid changes during transmission of a nerve
impulse, whereas the permeability of the chloride channels
does not change greatly
 Resting Membrane Potential

• When nerve fibers are not transmitting nerve signals

• Potential inside the fiber is more negative than the potential

in the extracellular fluid on the outside of the fiber
• -9OmV in large nerve fibers
 Origin Of Resting Membrane Potential

Contribution of the Potassium diffusion potential

Contribution of Sodium diffusion potential

Contribution of the Na+-K+ pump

Contribution of the Potassium Diffusion Potential

Ratio of potassium ions

inside
to outside, 35 : 1
If assumed the only ion
through membrane is
potassium ion,then
Nernst equation=
+61 log conc inside
conc outside
= -94 mV
Contribution of Sodium Diffusion Potential
• Ratio of sodium ions
from inside to outside
is 0.1
• According to Nernst
equation
+61 log conc inside
conc outside
+61 log 14 = 61 mV
142
Contribution of the Na+-K+ Pump

• Continuous pumping of
three sodium ions to
the outside occurs for
each two potassium
ions pumped to the
inside of the membrane
• Contributes -4mV
 Net Membrane Potential

• Diffusion potentials caused by potassium and sodium diffusion give a

membrane potential of about −86millivolts

• Almost all of this being determined by potassium diffusion

• −4 millivolts is contributed by electrogenic Na+/K+ pump

• RMP=-86 +(-4)

• = -90 mV