In: Biology
1. You are attempting to record an action potential from a nerve but nothing is happening. Can you explain why this might be the case? You should mention in your answer: current; voltage; ion concentrations; how action potentials are produced; the affect that you would expect single and multiple stimulations may have on the possible recording (summation, refractory periods and tetany).
During resting potential is the ions are distributed unequally on the inside and outside of cells, and that cell membranes are selectively permeable to different ions.K+ is important for resting potential. The membrane is highly permeable to K+. In addition, the inside of the cell has a high concentration of K+ ([K+]i) and the outside of the cell has a low concentration of K+ ([K+]o). Thus, K+ will naturally move by diffusion from its region of high concentration to its region of low concentration.The positive K+ ions leaving the inner surface of the membrane leave behind some negatively charged ions. That negative charge attracts the positive charge of the K+ ion . Thus, there will be an electrical force directed inward that will tend to counterbalance the diffusional force directed outward. Eventually, an equilibrium will be established; the concentration force moving K+ out will balance the electrical force holding it .
This is nernst equilibrium potential.