| oscillatory potential | The variable voltage in the positive deflection of the electroretinogram (B-wave) of the dark-adapted eye arising from amacrine cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Ottoson potential | <investigation> An electronegative wave of potential occurring on the surface of the olfactory epithelium in response to stimulation by an odour. Synonym: osmogram, Ottoson potential. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxidation-reduction potential | <chemistry, physics> The potential in volts of an inert metallic electrode measured in a system of an arbitrarily chosen ratio of [oxidant] to [reductant] and referred to the normal hydrogen electrode at absolute temperature. It is calculated from the following equation: where R is the gas constant expressed in electrical units, T the absolute temperature (Kelvin), n the number of electrons transferred, F the faraday and E0 the normal symbol for the potential of the system at pH 0; for biological systems E0' is often used (in which pH = 7). Compare: Nernst's equation. Synonym: redox potential. (05 Mar 2000) |
| thermodynamic potential | See: free energy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| early receptor potential | A voltage arising across the eye from a charge displacement within photoreceptor pigment, in response to an intense flash of light. (05 Mar 2000) |
| electrochemical potential | <chemistry> Defined as the work done in bringing 1 mole of an ion from a standard state (infinitely separated) to a specified concentration and electrical potential. Measured in joules/mole. More commonly used to measure the electrochemical potential difference between two points (e.g. Either side of a cell membrane), thus sidestepping the rather abstract concept of a standard state. If the molecule is uncharged or the electrical potential difference between two points is zero, the electrochemical potential reduces to the chemical potential difference of the species. at equilibrium, the electrochemical potential difference (by definition) is zero, the situation can then be described by the Nernst equation. (18 Nov 1997) |
| electronic potential | <chemistry, physiology> The measure (in volts) of electron pressure. A measure of the difference in electron concentrations between two compartments, such as either side of a cell membrane. (09 Oct 1997) |
| transmembrane potential | <physiology> More correctly, transmembrane potential difference: the electrical potential difference across a plasma membrane. See: resting potential, action potential. (18 Nov 1997) |
| end plate potential | <physiology> Depolarisation of the sarcolemma as a result of acetylcholine release from the motoneuron causing an influx of sodium ions. The endplate potential is the sum of quantal miniature endplate potentials. Development of the end plate potential is blocked by curare. (18 Nov 1997) |
| equilibrium potential | <physiology> The membrane potential at which a particular type of ion or other particle does not diffuse through the membrane in either direction. (09 Oct 1997) |
| evoked potential | An event-related potential, elicited by, and time-lockied to a stimulus. See: evoked response. (05 Mar 2000) |
| junction potential | <physiology> Potential difference at the boundary between dissimilar solutions, arises from differences in diffusion constants between ions. (18 Nov 1997) |
| years of potential life lost | Measure of the relative impact of various diseases and lethal forces on society, computed by estimating the years that people would have lived if they had not died prematurely from injury, cancer, heart disease, etc. (05 Mar 2000) |
| zeta potential | <chemistry> The electrostatic potential of a molecule or particle, for example cell measured at the plane of hydrodynamic slippage outside the surface of the molecule or cell. Usually measured by electrophoretic mobility. Related to the surface potential and a measure of the electrostatic forces of repulsion the particle or molecule is likely to meet when encountering another of the same sign of charge. See: cell electrophoresis. (18 Nov 1997) |
| zoonotic potential | The potential for infections of subhuman animals to be transmissible to humans. (05 Mar 2000) |