General Physiology question

[DiamondBar]

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"For nerve and muscle cells, the voltmeter will record a
resting membrane potential between 240 and 290 mV, indicating
that the intracellular fluid is negative relative to the extracellular
fluid (0 mV)."

From this text, I'm assuming a more positive voltage indicates a more negative intracellular fluid. So if you inhibit Na+ K+ ATPase, I would assume that Na+ will leak back into the cell, making the cell less negative, causing the 240-290mV to drop to a lower mV. However, the answer says that the resting potential will INCREASE? I don't understand.

Also, on other graphs of the textbook, -70mV is indicated to be the membrane potential. I know the contributions and theories behind why (K+ Na+ Cl+ gradients, etc.), but this contradicts the first quote that I put - a big positive resting membrane potential of 240-290mV in nerve/muscle cells...

Can anyone please clarify? This is very confusing. Thank you

 

[kpcrew]

Sounds like you don't actually understand the material. Go reread the textbook.

 

[chillaxbro]

Na+ leaking into the cell will make the inside more positive and thus the difference in charge will be smaller and be closer to 0 (depolarization)

 

[DiamondBar]

Na+ leaking into the cell will make the inside more positive and thus the difference in charge will be smaller and be closer to 0 (depolarization)

Yeah, but I can't connect it to the big positive mV value for resting membrane potential that the book gives for neurons and muscles 🙁

 

[chillaxbro]

Yeah, but I can't connect it to the big positive mV value for resting membrane potential that the book gives for neurons and muscles 🙁

I think that number is looking at just Na+ and nothing else.

 

[sector9]

SDN is not for homework help. Closing thread