Understanding Neurons and Membrane Potential

What is the resting membrane potential primarily determined by?

• Movement of Cl- ions across the membrane

• Movement of organic anions across the membrane

• Movement of K+ ions across the membrane

• Movement of Na+ ions across the membrane

Which ion is more permeable in a resting neuron?

• Ca2+

• K+

• Cl-

• Na+

What is the role of the Na+-K+ pump?

• To actively transport Na+ and K+ against their electrochemical gradients

• To allow Na+ and K+ to move down their electrochemical gradients

• To maintain the membrane's impermeability to ions

• To depolarize the neuron

What happens when the membrane potential becomes more positive than the resting potential?

• The membrane becomes impermeable

• The membrane potential remains unchanged

• The membrane is depolarized

• The membrane is hyperpolarized

What is the equilibrium potential?

• The potential difference across the membrane when all ions are at equilibrium

• The potential at which the membrane becomes impermeable

• The electrical potential difference that balances the concentration gradient for an ion

• The potential difference that causes maximum ion flow

Which ion's equilibrium potential is closest to the resting membrane potential in neurons?

• Na+

• Ca2+

• Cl-

• K+

What is the main reason the resting membrane potential is different from the potassium equilibrium potential?

• Permeability to organic anions

• Permeability to Ca2+

• Permeability to Cl-

• Permeability to Na+

What is the function of leak channels in neurons?

• To actively transport ions against their gradients

• To allow ions to passively move down their concentration gradients

• To depolarize the neuron

• To maintain the impermeability of the membrane

What happens if additional sodium channels open up in a neuron?

• The membrane potential remains unchanged

• The membrane hyperpolarizes

• The membrane depolarizes

• The membrane becomes impermeable

What is the role of the Na+-K+ ATPase in neurons?

• To depolarize the neuron

• To maintain Na+ and K+ gradients across the membrane

• To allow passive ion movement

• To make the membrane impermeable