Review Sheet Results
1. Explain why increasing extracellular K+ reduces the net diffusion of K+ out of the neuron through the K+ leak
channels.
Your answer:
Increasing extracellular k+ makes difference of k+ concentration less steeper. So less k+ diffuse out of the neuron.
2. Explain why increasing extracellular K+ causes the membrane potential to change to a less negative value. How well
did the results compare with your prediction?
Your answer:
Less k+ diffuse out of the neuron. So more k+ remains in the neuron in comparing to control. As a result it makes a less
negative value.
3. Explain why a change in extracellular Na+ did not significantly alter the membrane potential in the resting neuron?
Your answer:
Because almost all of Na+ channels were closed, most of Na+ did not diffused into the neuron. So there was no significant
change in membrane potential.
4. Discuss the relative permeability of the membrane to Na+ and K+ in a resting neuron.
Your answer:
K+ diffuse from high gradient to low gradient because most most of k+ channel is opend. Otherwise Na+ does not show
outstanding movement.
5. Discuss how a change in Na+ or K+ conductance would affect the resting membrane potential.
Your answer:
When conductance of k+ increased, membrane potential becomes more negative. When conductance of k+ decreased,
membrane potential becomes less negative.
In Na+ it works in the other way.