Synonyms
Transmembrane voltage
Definition
The electrical potential difference (voltage) across the cell membrane (plasmalemma or sarcolemma) of all living cells that is produced by an unequal net distribution of positive and negative charges on either side of the cell membrane. The potential in the intracellular milieu is normally negative with respect to the extracellular milieu, reference set to zero.
Characteristics
Even phylogenetically ancient unicellular organisms such as Paramecium need to exchange matter and information with their environment. In multicellular organisms, the exchange must be organized across different cellular and body parts. Information is an abstract entity that needs to be encoded in a signal to be generated, transmitted and processed. Signals in turn are generated by mechanisms bound to some material substrate or carrier. The basic structure for information exchange is the cell membrane, and the signals required are generated by physico-chemical mechanisms....
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References
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Windhorst, U., Lalley, P.M. (2009). Membrane Potential: Basics. In: Binder, M.D., Hirokawa, N., Windhorst, U. (eds) Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29678-2_3403
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29678-2_3403
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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