Cell Function
membrane potential
mem·brane po·ten·tial [ mem-breyn puh-ten-shuhl ]
Subclass of:
Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Cell physiology
Definitions related to membrane potentials:
  • Electrical potential difference across a biological, i.e., cell or organelle, or artificial membrane.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • The electrical potential difference across a plasma membrane.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization).
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.