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HOW WE TEACH

A model for understanding membrane potential using springs

Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: D. L. Cardozo, Dept. of Neurobiolgy, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115 (e-mail: david_cardozo{at}hms.harvard.edu)

In this report, I present a simple model using springs to conceptualize the relationship between ionic conductances across a cellular membrane and their effect on membrane potential. The equation describing the relationships linking membrane potential, ionic equilibrium potential, and ionic conductance is of similar form to that describing the force generated by a spring as a function of its displacement. The spring analogy is especially useful in helping students to conceptualize the effects of multiple conductances on membrane potential.

Key words: ionic conductance; Hooke’s law; equilibrium potential