Question

Consider an ion for which there are only passive leakage channels. If the membrane potential is farther from the ion’s Nernst potential, the magnitude of the current associated with that ion will be:

a. greater

b. smaller

c. the same

d. none of the above

And why?

Answer 1

Magnitude of current is kanown as the flow of current or charge in a particular region in a specific time interval.

Now in this case the net charge of the ion is less than the membrane potential and the ion leaks passively which means the the release of charge is also very less than the membrane potential.

So the correct answer is- (b) smaller.

(a) It can not be greater because the charge of the ion is less or lower than the membrane potential.So this option is incorrect.

(b) The net charge of the ion is less then the membrane potential so the leaky channel will produce less or smaller magnitude of current because the ion discharges passively through the leaky channels.So this option is correct.

(c) The ion have less charge than the membrane potential,so passively passing out ions will produce smaller magnitude of current,it will not same. So this option is incorrect.

(d) Option 'b' is correct so this option is incorrect.

So the correct answer is- (b)