nerve transmissions - resting potential

• how do neurons transmit electrical impulses along the cell membrane


  by changing the potential difference across the axon membrane of the neurone
• what is meant by resting potential in terms of nerve transmission


  this is when no impulse is being sent and the inside of the cell has a negative electrical charge when compared to the outside
• what is the value of resting potential


  -70mV
• is the membrane polarised or depolarised when at resting potential


  polarised
• what two ions are move in and out of the membrane to transmit a neurone


  na+ and K+
• what happens with ions to generate resting potential


  three Na+ are pumped out of the axon for every two K+ ions that are pumped in by the Na+/k+ pump
• what happens tot he Na+ channel when the membrane is at resting potential


  it is closed
• what happens to the K+ channels when the membrane is at resting potential


  some will be open
• what is the function of the voltage gated k+ channels


  to allow k+ to diffuse back out of the axon
• when at resting potential what side of the cell membrane is more positive


  the outside of the cell