The difference in voltage between the inside and outside of a resting cell is called

Information transmission can be understood in terms of two major components: Electrical signals and chemical signals. Transient electrical signals are important for transferring information over long distances rapidly within the neuron. Chemical signals, on the other hand, are mainly involved in the transmission of information between neurons.

Electrical signals (receptor potential, synaptic potential and action potential) are all caused by transient changes in the current flow into and out of the neuron, that drives the electrical potential across the plasma membrane away of its resting condition.

The potential across the membrane when the cell is at rest (i.e. when there is no signaling activity) is known as the resting potential. Since , by convention, the potential outside the cell is arbitrarily defined as zero, and given the relative excess of negative charges inside the membrane; the potential difference across the membrane is expressed as a negative value:

Vr = -60 to -70 mV.

Being Vr, the resting potential.

The charge separation across the membrane, and therefore the resting membrane potential, is disturbed whenever there is a net flux of ions into or out of the cell. A reduction of the charge separation is called depolarization; an increase in charge separation is called hyperpolarization. Transient current flow and therefore rapid changes in potential are made possible by ion channel, a class of integral proteins that traverse the cell membrane. There are two types of ion channels in the membrane: gated and nongated. Nongated channels are always open and are not influenced significantly by extrinsic factors. They are primarily important in maintaining the resting membrane potential. Gated channels, in contrast, open and close in response to specific electrical, mechanical, or chemical signals. Since ion channels recognize and select among specific ions, the actual distribution of ionic species across the membrane depends on the particular distribution of ion channels in the cell membrane.

Ionic species are not distributed equally on the two sides of a nerve membrane. Na and Cl are more concentrated outside the cell while K and organic anions (organic acids and proteins) are more concentrated inside. The overall effect of this ionic distribution is the resting potential. However, what prevents the ionic gradients from being dissipated by passive diffusion of ions across the membrane through the passive nongated channels?.

Dissipation of ionic gradients is ultimately prevented by Na-K pumps, which extrudes Na from the cell while taking in K. Because the pump moves Na and K against their net electrochemical gradients, energy is required to drive these actively transported fluxes. The energy necessary for this process is obtained from the hydrolysis of ATP (an energy carrying molecule). In addition, some cells also have chloride pumps that actively transport chloride ions toward the outside so that the ratio of extracellular to intracellular concentration of Cl is greater than the ratio that would result from passive diffusion alone.

What is the electrical difference between the inside and outside of a resting neuron?

What is the difference in voltage in a resting neuron called?

What is the potential difference in voltage across the membrane of a resting cell called?

What is the voltage of the inside of the cell at rest?