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Physiology and Biochemistry of the Nervous System

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The Fundamentals of Psychological Medicine

Abstract

The resting nerve cell may be visualized as a minute, fully-charged electrical battery. Its body and its processes are enclosed by a membrane of high resistance and its electrical charge is generated by the unequal distribution of sodium and potassium ions, inside and outside the cell on either side of the limiting membrane. This electrical charge is termed the resting potential. The interior of the neurone is negative to its exterior and a resting potential of some — 70 millivolts may be recorded. The resting nerve cell is described as ‘polarized’.

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© 1975 R. R. Tilleard-Cole and J. Marks

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Tilleard-Cole, R.R., Marks, J. (1975). Physiology and Biochemistry of the Nervous System. In: The Fundamentals of Psychological Medicine. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7164-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7164-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-7166-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-7164-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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