 Electrochemical gradient

An electrochemical gradient combines spatial changes in chemical potential and electric potential for a charged species. Passive transport proceeds downhill in electrochemical potential when an appropriate route is available; a concentration difference alone does not determine the direction for an ion.

An electrochemical gradient refers to the combined difference in both the concentration of ions (the chemical gradient) and the electrical potential (the membrane potential) across a biological membrane. It plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including the generation of action potentials in neurons, muscle contractions, and the transport of molecules across cell membranes.