Many cells in the human body maintain an electric potential difference across their cellular membranes, typically through the use ion-specific pumps and channels that generate an excess of negative charges on the inside of the cellular membrane and an excess of positive charges on the outside. Let us estimate the total energy stored in the human body by this type of charge separation.
Many cells in the human body maintain an electric potential difference across their cellular membranes, typically through the use ion-specific pumps and channels that generate an excess of negative charges on the inside of the cellular membrane and an excess of positive charges on the outside. Let us estimate the total energy stored in the human body by this type of charge separation.
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation
Section: Chapter Questions
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Transcribed Image Text:Many cells in the human body maintain an electric potential difference across their cellular membranes, typically through the use of ion-specific pumps and channels that generate an excess of negative charges on the inside of the cellular membrane and an excess of positive charges on the outside. Let us estimate the total energy stored in the human body by this type of charge separation.
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Different cells types maintain different membrane potentials, but as an approximation, let us assume that all cells in the body maintain a \(-40 \, mV\) potential across its \(7 \, nm\) thick cellular membrane, and that this bi-lipid cellular membrane acts as a dielectric with a dielectric constant of \(\kappa = 9\). The thickness of the membrane is 1000-times smaller than the 16-micrometer diameter of our model cell, so we can reasonably approximate it as being (locally) flat and treat the membrane as a parallel-plate capacitor with a plate area equal to the surface area of the cell. Based on these estimates and approximations, calculate the total energy stored in the human body by charge separation across the cellular membranes. What does your answer imply about how energy is stored in the human body?
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Different cells types maintain different membrane potentials, but as an approximation, let us assume that all cells in the body maintain a \(-40 \, mV\) potential across its \(7 \, nm\) thick cellular membrane, and that this bi-lipid cellular membrane acts as a dielectric with a dielectric constant of \(\kappa = 9\). The thickness of the membrane is 1000-times smaller than the 16-micrometer diameter of our model cell, so we can reasonably approximate it as being (locally) flat and treat the membrane as a parallel-plate capacitor with a plate area equal to the surface area of the cell. Based on these estimates and approximations, calculate the total energy stored in the human body by charge separation across the cellular membranes. What does your answer imply about how energy is stored in the human body?
---
Please enter a numerical answer below. Accepted formats are numbers or "e" based scientific notation e.g. 0.23, 1e6, 5.23e-8
**Enter answer here:** [Text box]
**Dropdown:** Joules
Expert Solution
Step 1
Introduction :-
All cells have a cell membrane, also known as a plasma membrane, which separates the interior of the cell from the external environment. A semipermeable lipid bilayer makes up the cell membrane.
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