electric membrane potential???????

[cutedoc12]

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can anyone plz explain wats da difference b/w resting potential and equilibrium potential????

 

[Ibanez]

can anyone plz explain wats da difference b/w resting potential and equilibrium potential????

Equilibrium potential for any ion is the potential gradient when the influx of that ion equals the efflux of the same ion. This is for an INDIVIDUAL ION.

Resting membrane potential is the potential gradient at rest. To say, the potential difference measured when the cells are at rest and when not being stimulated (like in in vitro experimentation). So if the two electrodes are placed on the membrane then there is no potential difference (because there is NOT much MOVEMENT of ions at rest and is not significant enough to be picked up a CRO (Cathode ray oscilloscope; it measures the electrical activity).

But if one of the electrode is placed intracellularly, then a potential gradient is seen (because of the difference of electronegativity inside and outside a cell). This is because of the inherent tendency for any cell to maintain a low Na+ inside (to maintain Ca++ levels intracellularly; Ca++ Channels, Na+K+ pump and so forth).

Go back to your basics, if you remember the laws of thermodynamics... the second law says that things tend to lose energy, and try to acheive the minimum energy state at rest. Here it can be applied to the resting membrane potential (LOWEST ENERGY STATE; REST!)

As you can now make-out that resting membrane potential is actually a function of ALL IONS inside and outside a cell.

Hope it clears the most if not all. 😛

Drop me any question and if you plan a de novo conversation, I'm always on Yahoo! Well atleast for somedays I'll be on 24x7.

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[cutedoc12]

thnx a lot again

 

[Ibanez]

thnx a lot again

Oh you're welcome! 🙂