Nernst Equation

Nernst Equation

nernst cellThe Nerst Equation is unpopular with students for 2 reasons

  • a) It is an equation. Students don't like these
  • b) It has logs in it (also why pH is unpopular)

Which is a pity, because playing with it helps consolidate the basic ideas about what is going on in a cell at rest and when it starts to let various ions in (or out).

In its Physiology Friendly approximation it is very easy to use.

Vm = 60 log [X+]o over [X+] i mV

Which says that if a membrane is selectively permeable to an ion X, which is at a different concentration (square brackets) outside and inside(o and i), then at equilibrium when the tendency to equalise concentrations is balanced by the electrical consequences) a voltage will appear across the membrane (Vm, in millivolts).


How do I use a calculator for this?

Try the simplest possible example..

  • extracellular sodium [Na+]o = 140mM
  • intracellular sodium [Na+]i = 14mM
mV     

If the cell were to become freely permeable to sodium (only) what would the potential be inside the cell?