Explain how a membrane becomes polarized.
Explain how a membrane becomes polarized.
In physiology, membrane depolarization refers to a process during which a cell membrane's membrane potential gets changed from negative to positive. In depolarization, there is a difference in charge between the inside and outside of a cell during depolarization due to a change in membrane permeability.
A membrane is polarized when the membrane possesses a positive charge on one surface and a negative one. When a cell is resting, the potassium ion concentration is high inside the membrane, while the amount of sodium ions is more outside the membrane. This further results in the movement of potassium ions outside the membrane from inside than the sodium ions. The unequal distribution of ions between the sides of the membrane causes polarization of the membrane.
Step by step
Solved in 3 steps
