Membrane Potential

Resting membrane potential
 Resting membrane potential is defined

as the electrical potential difference
(voltage) across the cell membrane
(between inside and outside of the cell)
under resting condition.
 It is also called membrane potential.
 When two electrodes are connected to
a cathode ray oscilloscope through a
suitable amplifier and placed over the
surface of the muscle fiber, there is no
potential difference.
 i.e, there is zero potential difference.
 But, if one of the electrodes is inserted into
the interior of muscle fiber, potential
difference is observed across the sarcolemma
(cell membrane). There is negativity inside
and positivity outside the muscle fiber.
 This potential difference is constant and is
called resting membrane potential.
 The condition of the muscle during
resting membrane potential is called
polarized state.
 In human skeletal muscle, the resting
membrane potential is -90 mV.
The ionic imbalance is produced mainly by two
transport mechanism in the cell membrane
 1. Sodium-potassium pump
 2. Selective-permeability of cell
membrane
Sodium-potassium pump
 Sodium and potassium ions are actively
transported in opposite directions
across the cell membrane by means of
an electrogenic pump called sodium-
potassium pump.
 It moves three sodium ions out of the
cell and two potassium ions inside the
cell by using energy from ATP.
 Since more positive ions (cations) are
pumped outside than inside, a net
deficit of positive ions occurs inside the
cell. It leads to negativity inside and
positivity outside the cell.
Selective permeability of cell
membrane
 The permeability of cell membrane
depends largely on the transport
channels.
 The transport channels are selective for
the movement of some specific ions.
 1. Channels for major ions (negatively
charged substances) like proteins.
 Channels for some of the negatively charged large
substances such as proteins and negatively charged
organic phosphate compounds and sulfate
compounds are absent or closed.
 So, such substances remain inside the cell and play a
major role in the development and maintenance of
resting membrane potential
 2. Leak channels
 The channels for three important ions-
sodium, chloride and potassium also play an
important role in maintaining the resting
membrane potential. These three ions are
unequally distributed across the cell
membrane. The sodium and chloride are
more outside and potassium is more inside.
 Since, the chloride channels are mostly
closed in resting conditions chloride ions
are retained outside the cell. Thus, only
the positive ions, sodium and potassium
can move across the cell membrane.
Action potential
 Action potential is defined as a series of
electrical changes that occur in the
membrane potential when the muscle
or nerve is stimulated.
FIGURE : Action potential in a skeletal muscle
A = Opening of few Na+ channels, B = Opening of many Na+ channels
C = Closure of Na+ channels and opening of K+ channels
D = Closure of K+ channels
 Action potential occurs in two
phases :
 1. Depolarization
 2. Repolarization
Action potential curve
 The resting membrane potential is
recorded as a straight baseline at -90
mV. When a stimulus is applied, there is
a slight irregular deflection of baseline
for a very short period. This is called
stimulus artifact. The artifact is due to
leakage of current from stimulating
electrode to the recording electrode.
Depolarization
 Depolarization is the initial phase of

action potential in which inside of the
muscle becomes positive and outside
becomes negative. That is, the
polarized state (resting membrane
potential) is abolished resulting in
depolarization.
 Depolarization starts after the latent
period. Initially, it is very slow and the
muscle is depolarized for about 15 mV.
Firing level and
depolarization
 After the initial slow depolarization for
15 mV (upto -75 mV), the rate of
depolarization increases suddenly. The
point at which, the depolarization
increases suddenly is called firing level.
Overshoot
 From firing level, the curve reaches

isoelectric potential (zero potential)
rapidly and then shoots up (overshoots)
beyond the zero potential (isoelectric
base) upto to +55 mV. It is called
overshoot.
Repolarization
 When depolarization is completed
(+55mV), the repolarization starts.
Initially, the repolarization occurs
rapidly and then its become slow.

Spike potential
 Rapid rise in depolarization and the
rapid fall in repolarization are together
called spike potential. It lasts for 0.4
millisecond.
Ionic Basis of Action
Potential
 Voltage gated Na+ channels and the
voltage gated K+ channels play
important role in the development of
action potential.
 During the onset of depolarization,
voltage gated sodium channels open
and there is slow influx of Na+. When
depolarization reaches 7 to 10 mV, the
voltage gated Na+ channels start
opening at a faster rate. It is called Na+
channel activation. When the firing level
is reached, the influx of Na+ is very
great and it leads to overshoot.
 But the Na+ transport is short lived. It is
because of rapid inactivation of Na+
channels. Thus, the Na+ channels open
and close quickly. At the same time, the
K+ channels start opening. This leads to
efflux of K+ out of the cell, causing
repolarization.
 Unlike the Na+ channels, the K+
channels remain open for longer
duration. These channels remain
opened for few more milliseconds after
completion of repolarization. It causes
efflux of more number of K+ producing
more negativity inside. It is the cause
for hyperpolarization.

Membrane Potential

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Resting membrane potential

 Resting membrane potential is defined

 Depolarization is the initial phase of

 From firing level, the curve reaches

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