What are the main factors that determine the membrane potential?
Posted July 3, 2024
Answer
The two main factors that determine the membrane potential are:
- Differences in the concentration of ions inside and outside the cell. Potassium, sodium, chloride, and calcium ions have the biggest impact on the generation of membrane potential because they are present in the highest concentrations.
- Variable permeability of the plasma membrane for different ion species.
Additional resources
The Microbiologist's Guide to Membrane Potential Dynamics