Steady state (biochemistry)
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
In ionic steady state cells maintain different internal and external concentrations of various ionic species [1] (http://www.okcu.edu/biology/BIOL3403/diffusion.pdf). The interior of the cell is rich in carboxylic acids and cells balance this negative charge by positively charged counterions. Cell membranes leak in sodium and other ions so they actively pump out sodium and calcium ions at the same rate. This is why intracellular sodium ion concentration is much lower than the extracellular concentration. This unequal distribution of ions represents a steady state that requires the continual expenditure of cellular energy. Ionic steady state is a form of homeostasis.
