<unk>  (or transmembrane potential or transmembrane potential difference or transmembrane potential gradient),  is the electrical potential difference (voltage) across a cell's plasma<unk> . The plasma<unk>  bounds the cell to provide a stable environment for biological processes.<unk>  arises from the action of ion transporters<unk> bedded in the<unk>  which maintain viable ion concentrations inside the cell. The term<unk> " is sometimes used interchangeably with cell potential but is applicable to any lipid bilayer or<unk> .
The<unk>  of most cells is kept relatively stable. Unlike most cells, neurons are specialized to use changes in<unk>  for fast communication, primarily with other neurons. When a neuron fires, the action potential travels down the axon to the synapses: the magnitude of the axonal<unk>  varies dynamically along its length. On reaching a (chemical) synapse, a neurotransmitter is released causing a localized change in potential in the<unk>  of the target neuron by opening ion channels in its<unk> .
Membrane potential
Electrochemical gradient
Anion gap
Oxygen permeability
Electric current
Molecular mass
Action potential
Polarization density