You are studying the electrophysiological characteristics of cardiac pacemaker cells. Which of the following is the primary determinant of the resting membrane potential in these cells?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The resting membrane potential in cardiac pacemaker cells is primarily determined by the background potassium conductance, which helps maintain the negative charge inside the cell relative to the outside. The resting membrane potential of cardiac cells is caused by the difference in ionic concentrations and conductances across the membrane of the cell during an action potential. This potential is determined by the selective permeability of the cell membrane to various ions. The membrane is most permeable to K⁺ and relatively impermeable to other ions. The resting membrane potential is therefore dominated by the K⁺ equilibrium potential according to the K⁺ gradient across the cell membrane.

You Are Studying the Electrophysiological Characteristics of Cardiac Pacemaker Cells