Electrotonic potential

The electrotonus (of electro- for " electric" and Greek tonos " tension" ) or the electrotonic potential is a potential profile that is triggered by the current flow in the intracellular stimulation of a cell with a constant current. The depolarization of the cell membrane caused thereby causes a decrease in the resting membrane potential of the cell. This initial strong decrease is slower with increasing time until a value is reached at which no discharge takes place over the membrane.

The profile and the size of the electrotonus are dependent on the ion concentration and shape of the cell.