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Pill

Theme C - Interaction &  Interdependence

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Direct Hit

Theme A - Unity & Diversity

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Page Facing Up

Theme B - Form & Function

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Keycap Digit One

Theme D - Continuity & Change

Imagine your cell as a little battery with a voltage waiting to be used. When we measure this with tiny tools called microelectrodes, we see there&#39;s a difference in voltage across a cell&#39;s membrane. This voltage is the membrane potential.

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	🔍 Range: Between 10 and 100 millivolts (mV).
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	📊 Typical Value: Liver cells have a potential of &minus;40 mV.
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	🎭 Why negative?: The inside of a cell is usually more negative than the outside. That&#39;s why we express this potential with a negative value.
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When a neuron&#39;s just hanging out, not transmitting any impulses, it has a steady membrane potential close to &minus;70mV. We call this the resting potential.

Three major players keep this potential in check

Think of them as bouncers at a club. They push out 3 sodium ions (Na+) and let in 2 potassium ions (K+). It&#39;s a bit unequal, but that&#39;s the point! This action requires energy from a molecule we all love: ATP. This gives us:

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	A charge imbalance 🔄
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	Different concentrations of Na+ and K+ on either side of the cell membrane.

	🍕 Real-world example: Imagine a pizza place where for every 3 pepperonis you take out, you add in 2 mushrooms. Over time, there will be an imbalance in toppings!
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Even after being pumped, some ions like to sneak back in through diffusion. But here&#39;s the twist - the cell&#39;s membrane is 50 times friendlier to K+ than Na+. This means K+ escapes faster, making the charge imbalance even bigger.

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🌊 Real-world example: Think of K+ as water droplets on a car&#39;s windshield. Even if you wipe them away, they come back faster if there&#39;s a bigger gap or a more permeable surface.

Inside nerve fibers, there are some proteins with a negative charge. They don&#39;t move like ions, but they do make the inside of the cell more negative. They&#39;re like the background singers in a song, adding depth to the overall performance!

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🎤 Real-world example: Consider a music band. While the lead singer (the ions) gets most of the attention, the background singers (proteins) provide that essential harmony to complete the song!

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And there you have it! Your cell, especially neurons, have this cool electric vibe going on, and it&#39;s all thanks to these intricate processes. So, the next time you think about that little buzz in your brain, remember it&#39;s all about balance and electric dance of ions and proteins. 🎉🔬📚

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Keep exploring and stay curious! 🌌🧪🧬

Theme C - Interaction & Interdependence

Unlocking Cell Secrets: The Resting Potential Journey

Table of content

What's all the buzz about membrane potential? 🤔

Meet the neuron in chill mode - the resting potential 🧠💤

What shapes this resting potential? ⚖️🔋