Neurons communicate via
electrical and chemical signals
Cell membrane
semi-permeable, leakier to potassium than to sodium because more positive charges leak out of the cell than leak in making cell more negative
Sodium Potassium Pump (3)
-Helps keep more sodium outside of cell and more potassium inside of cell
-uses 1 ATP to pump out 3 sodium, and pump in 2 potassium
-is actively setting concentration gradient so that inside is more negative
Potassium does this when membrane is at rest
leaving cell,due to leaky channels, making it more negatively charged relative to the outside of the cell
Sodium does this when membrane is at rest
stays outside of cell, can't get in because sodium channels are closed at rest
Refractory Period
period occurs when cell is becoming more negative as potassium channels are open
