resting potential

(noun)

the nearly latent membrane potential of inactive cells

Related Terms

Examples of resting potential in the following topics:

  • Resting Membrane Potentials

    • The potential difference in a resting neuron is called the resting membrane potential.
    • The potential difference in a resting neuron is called the resting membrane potential.
    • The resting membrane potential exists only across the membrane.
    • These  interactions that generate the resting potential are modeled by the Goldman equation .
    • Consequently, the resting potential is usually close to the potassium reversal potential.

  • Nerve Impulse Transmission within a Neuron: Resting Potential

    • The resting potential of a neuron is controlled by the difference in total charge between the inside and outside of the cell.
    • For quiescent cells, the relatively-static membrane potential is known as the resting membrane potential.
    • As potassium is also the ion with the most-negative equilibrium potential, usually the resting potential can be no more negative than the potassium equilibrium potential.
    • The actions of the sodium-potassium pump help to maintain the resting potential, once it is established.
    • Voltage-gated ion channels are closed at the resting potential and open in response to changes in membrane voltage.

  • Electric Potential in Human

    • Electric potentials are not limited in function to inorganic processes.
    • Thus, a potential, called the resting potential, is created on either side of the membrane.
    • Typical ions used to generate resting potential include potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate.
    • Resting membrane potential is approximately -95 mV in skeletal muscle cells, -60 mV in smooth muscle cells, -80 to -90 mV in astroglia, and -60 to -70 mV in neurons.
    • Potentials can change as ions move across the cell membrane.

  • Nerve Impulse Transmission within a Neuron: Action Potential

    • As soon as depolarization is complete, the cell "resets" its membrane voltage back to the resting potential.
    • The diffusion of K+ out of the cell hyperpolarizes the cell, making the membrane potential more negative than the cell's normal resting potential.
    • At this point, the sodium channels return to their resting state, ready to open again if the membrane potential again exceeds the threshold potential.
    • Eventually, the extra K+ ions diffuse out of the cell through the potassium leakage channels, bringing the cell from its hyperpolarized state back to its resting membrane potential.
    • The hyperpolarized membrane is in a refractory period and cannot fire. (5) The K+ channels close and the Na+/K+ transporter restores the resting potential.

  • Membrane Potentials as Signals

    • Membrane potential (also transmembrane potential or membrane voltage) is the difference in electrical potential between the interior and the exterior of a biological cell.
    • In non-excitable cells, and in excitable cells in their baseline states, the membrane potential is held at a relatively stable value, called the resting potential.
    • For neurons, typical values of the resting potential range from –70 to –80 millivolts; that is, the interior of a cell has a negative baseline voltage of a bit less than one tenth of a volt.
    • The opening and closing of ion channels can induce a departure from the resting potential.
    • The action potential is a clear example of how changes in membrane potential can act as a signal.

  • Stages of the Action Potential

    • "Resting potential" is the name for the electrical state when a neuron is not actively being signaled.
    • A neuron at resting potential has a membrane with established amounts of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) ions on either side, leaving the inside of the neuron negatively charged relative to the outside.
    • In order for a neuron to move from resting potential to action potential—a short-term electrical change that allows an electrical signal to be passed from one neuron to another—the neuron must be stimulated by pressure, electricity, chemicals, or another form of stimuli.
    • The sodium gates cannot be opened again until the membrane is repolarized to its normal resting potential.
    • Therefore, the neuron cannot reach action potential during this "rest period."

  • Mechanics of the Action Potential

    • Resting potential.
    • The membrane of a neuron is normally at rest with established concentrations of sodium ions (Na+) and potassium ions (K+) on either side.
    • Eventually, the cell potential reaches +40 mV, or the action potential.
    • The sodium gates cannot be opened again until the membrane has completely repolarized to its normal resting potential, -70 mV.
    • Some of it escapes, but the rest of it binds to chemical receptor molecules located on the membrane of the postsynaptic cell.

  • Nerve Conduction and Electrocardiograms

    • A voltage is created across the cell membrane of a neuron in its resting state.
    • In its resting state, the cell membrane is permeable to K+ and Cl−, and impermeable to Na+.
    • The depolarization causes the membrane to again become impermeable to Na+, and the movement of K+ quickly returns the cell to its resting potential, referred to as repolarization.
    • Voltage channels are critical in the generation of an action potential
    • Top: view of an idealized action potential shows its various phases as the action potential passes a point on a cell membrane.

  • The Action Potential and Propagation

    • Action potential is a brief reversal of membrane potential where the membrane potential changes from -70mV to +30mV.
    • When the membrane potential of the axon hillock of a neuron reaches threshold, a rapid change in membrane potential occurs in the form of an action potential.
    • As a result, the membrane permeability to sodium declines to resting levels.
    • Schematic and B. actual action potential recordings.
    • The action potential is a clear example of how changes in membrane potential can act as a signal.

  • Problem Solving With the Conservation of Energy

    • When they start rising, the kinetic energy begins to be converted to gravitational potential energy ($PE_g$).
    • If you know the potential energies ($PE$) for the forces that enter into the problem, then forces are all conservative, and you can apply conservation of mechanical energy simply in terms of potential and kinetic energy.
    • The viewer is urged to pause the video at the problem statement and work the problem before watching the rest of the video.
    • When they start rising, the kinetic energy begins to be converted to gravitational potential energy.
    • The sum of kinetic and potential energy in the system remains constant, ignoring losses to friction.