Chapter 6, Problem 36RA

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

The following:

The equilibrium potential for potassium or K+ (EK) when its extracellular concentration rises from 5mM (millimolar) to 10mM.

Whether the change is a depolarization or a hyperpolarization compared to normal EK.

Introduction:

The intracellular and extracellular fluids have different inorganic ions and they are maintained at specific concentration. When the concentration is changed, an action potential is produced by each ion across the plasma membrane and is known as membrane potential. The membrane potential is generally determined by K+ ion concentration across the membrane because the plasma membrane is more permeable to K+ ions than any other ions.