The difference in electrical charge between the inside and the outside of a cell, caused by a difference in the distribution of ions.
Voltage difference across a membrane due to a slight excess of positive ions on one side and of negative ions on the other. A typical membrane potential for an animal cell plasma memhrane is - 60 mV (inside negative relative to the surrounding fluid).
A difference in voltage across a cell membrane, produced by differences in the elecrtolyte concentration between the intracellular and extracellular fluid. This electrical potential has the abilty to change as the cell alters the electrolyte concentrations, and can use this change to elicit a response or an action, such as contraction of a muscle cell. Close this window
Difference in the distribution of electrical charges across the membrane of a cell, see Resting Membrane Potential, Action potential
See transmembrane potential.
a localized electrical gradient across membrane
a voltage across the cell membrane that occurs due to a separation of oppositely charged particles (ions)
The inside potential minus the outside potential. The outside of the cell is often considered to be at ground potential (0 mV).
The charge difference between the cytoplasm and extracellular fluid in all cells, due to the differential distribution of ions. Membrane potential affects the activity of excitable cells and the transmembrane movement of all charged substances. memory cell A clone of long-lived lymphocytes, formed during the primary immune response, that remains in a lymph node until activated by exposure to the same antigen that triggered its formation. Activated memory cells mount the secondary immune response. Mendel's first law See law of segregation. Mendel's second law See law of independent assortment. meniscus The curved top surface of a column of liquid. menstrual cycle( men-stroo-ul) [L. mensis, month] A type of reproductive cycle in higher female primates, in which the nonpregnant endometrium is shed as a bloody discharge through the cervix into the vagina.
electric potential difference across the membrane consisitng of static and dynamic components, its negative side being generally on the cytosolic (inner) face of the membrane; it is usually expressed in mV, with a negative sign.
The electric potential difference across a membrane.
Voltage difference across a membrane due to the slight excess of positive ions (cations) on one side and negative ions (anions) on the other resulting from the selective permeability of the membrane to different ions or from pumping of ions across the membrane by active transport.
The electrical potential difference across a membrane. The membrane potential is a result of the concentration differences between potassium and sodium across cell membranes which are maintained by ion pumps. A large proportion of the body's resting energy expenditure is devoted to maintaining the membrane potential, which is critical for nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, heart function, and the transport of nutrients and metabolites in and out of cells.
The electrical voltage difference between the inside and the outside of a cell.
Voltage difference across cell membrane; inside of cell is negative with respect to outside.
Membrane potential (or transmembrane potential or transmembrane potential difference or transmembrane potential gradient), is the electrical potential difference (voltage) across a cell's plasma membrane. In membrane biophysics it is sometimes used interchangeably with cell potential, but is applicable to any lipid bilayer or membrane. Hence every organelle and every membranous compartment (such as a synthetic vesicle) has a transmembrane potential (although the size of this potential may be zero).
