Adv Physiol Educ ADInstruments
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Advan. Physiol. Edu. 267: 77S-80S, 1994;
1043-4046/94 $5.00
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Advances in Physiology Education, Vol 267, Issue 6 77-S80, Copyright © 1994 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

A hydrostatic model of membrane potential

S. S. Sircar
Department of Physiology, University College of Medical Sciences, Shahdara, Delhi, India.

A model based on the elementary principles of hydrostatic and air pressures is proposed for classroom demonstration of some concepts related to membrane potential. The instrument comprises a system of U tubes, pressure gauges, stopcocks, and syringes. Intracellular and extracellular ionic concentrations are represented in the model by the pressure heads of fluid columns in the twin limbs of the U tubes. Membrane channels are simulated by stopcocks interposed at the bends of the U tubes. The Na(+)-K+ pump is represented by the syringes that shunt fluid from one limb of the U tube to the other. The pressure of air trapped above the fluid columns is equivalent to electrical potential.




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