Cardiomyocyte membrane potential

The **cardiomyocyte membrane potential** is the voltage difference between the inside and outside of a cardiac muscle cell, maintained primarily by ionic concentration gradients (especially potassium, sodium, and calcium) across the plasma membrane and the selective permeability of various ion channels[7][8][3]. In resting (non-pacemaker) cardiomyocytes, this potential is approximately −90 mV[7]. Depolarization and repolarization events, which underpin the cardiac action potential, are orchestrated by the coordinated opening and closing of voltage-gated sodium, potassium, and calcium channels, as well as the action of ion pumps such as the Na+/K+ ATPase[2][4][8]. The membrane potential is central to proper heart function: disruption can lead to conduction disorders, arrhythmias, or cardiomyopathy[6][7][5]. "Cardiomyocyte membrane potential" refers to a crucial physical property of heart muscle cells rather than a molecular therapeutic target. Drugs influence this property by targeting underlying ion channels responsible for ionic currents[2][6][7].

Other names

Cardiomyocyte resting membrane potentialCardiac myocyte membrane potentialCardiac action potential (partially overlapping concept)

Modulation of ion channel activity (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium channel blockers, openers)