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Chapter 51 - Resting Membrane Potential

from Section 4 - Neurophysiology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2019

David Chambers ,
Christopher Huang  and
Gareth Matthews
David Chambers
Affiliation:
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
Christopher Huang
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
Gareth Matthews
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

The cell membrane provides a selectively permeant electrical barrier between the intracellular and extracellular compartments. The membrane potential of a cell is the electrical voltage of its interior relative to its exterior. The electrical potential across the membrane will be zero when there are exactly equal numbers of positively and negatively charged ions on either side of the cell membrane. A non-zero membrane potential arises from inequalities in the distribution of charged ions across the cell membrane.

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Basic Physiology for Anaesthetists , pp. 221 - 224
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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References

Further reading

Keynes, R. D., Aidley, D. J., Huang, C. L.-H.. Nerve and Muscle, 4th edition. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2011.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, S. H.. Generation of resting membrane potential. Adv Physiol Educ 2004; 28: 139–42.10.1152/advan.00029.2004CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

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