Glossary for iCell
(definitions of terms)

action potential -- a relatively large amplitude, rapid change in potential across a cell membrane that occurs due to the regenerative activation of certain ionic channels when the potential exceeds a threshold coltage.

depolarization -- the process of making the interior of a cell more positively-charged with respect to the exterior of a cell.

dynamics -- the study of solutions of differential equations and difference equations.

hyperpolarization -- the process of making the interior of a cell less positively-charged with respect to the exterior of a cell.

ionic channel -- a protein molecule embedded in the cell membrane and allows ions to move across the membrane.

ion exchanger -- active transport mechanism (molecule) that uses the potential energy in the electrochemical gradients to pump one ionic species into the cell and another species out of the cell.

ion pump -- active transport mechanism (molecule) that uses energy (in the form of ATP) to pump ions against their electrochemical gradients.

myocyte -- a cell of muscular tissue.

repolarization -- a process that usually follows depolarization and causes the transmembrane potential to return to a polarized state.

voltage clamp -- experimental procedure of using active electronic circuits to hold the transmembrane potential difference constant by injecting current into the cell.

Site last updated on Jan 30, 2000 by Yiming Liu

Web development and design by Semahat S. Demir