Membrane Potentials

In cells of all types, there is an electrical potential

difference between the inside of the cell and the surrounding
extracellular fluid. This is termed the membrane potential of
the cell. While this phenomenon is present in all cells, it is
especially important in nerve and muscles cells,
because changes in their membrane potentials are used to
code and transmit information.

First, what is an electrical potential

difference? An electrical potential
difference exists between two
locations when there is a net
separation of charge between the
two locations. This is illustrated in
the figure on the right. Electrical
potentials are measured in units of volts. (A volt is defined in
terms of energy per unit charge; that is, one volt is equal to one
joule/coloumb.)

When a nerve or muscle cell is at "rest", its membrane potential

is called the resting membrane potential. In a typical neuron,
this is about 70 millivolts (mV). The minus sign indicates that
the inside of the cell is negative with respect to the surrounding
extracellular fluid.

It is essential to realize that only a very small number of

negative and positive ions need to be separated by the
membrane to create the resting membrane potential. For
example, for each pair of negative and positive ions separated by
the membrane, there are roughly 1000 pairs of positive and
negative ions within the cytosol of the neuron.
 Thus, two energetic
factors influence
the movement of
an ion across a
membrane.

The
concentration
gradient

The electrical
potential
difference

The concentration gradient, of course, applies to uncharged

molecules too. But with ions, we must always consider the
electrical potential difference as well. Thus, the total energy
change for the movement of an ion across the membrane is the
the sum of the energy change due to the concentration gradient
and the energy change due to electrical potential difference.
These two factors may act in the same direction or in opposite
directions.

If some event, such as the opening of a gated ion channel,

causes the membrane potential to become less negative, this is
termeddepolarization. Conversely, if some factor causes the
membrane potential to become more negative, this is
termedhyperpolarization.

https://courses.washington.edu/conj/membpot/membranepot.htm