At a conceptual level, voltage means the same thing in a

neuron as it does in an electrical circuit. However, current in

wires is carried by electrons. In contrast, in neurons and other
cells, current is carried through the movement of ions. These
may include both positively charged ions (cations) and
negatively charged ions (anions).

For a cell’s membrane potential, the reference point is the

outside of the cell.

Because there is a potential difference across the cell membrane, the

membrane is said to be polarized.

If the membrane potential becomes more positive than it is

at the resting potential, the membrane is said to
be depolarized.

If the membrane potential becomes more negative than it

is at the resting potential, the membrane is said to
be hyperpolarized.

When a neuron is at rest,

When a neuron is not sending a signal, it is "at rest."
the inside of the neuron is negative relative to the outside.
The resting membrane potential of a neuron is about -70 mV (mV=millivolt) - this means that the
inside of the neuron is 70 mV less than the outside. At rest, there are relatively more sodium
ions outside the neuron and more potassium ions inside that neuron.

The resting potential tells about what happens when a neuron is at rest. An action
potential occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon, away from the cell body.
Neuroscientists use other words, such as a "spike" or an "impulse" for the action potential.
The action potential is an explosion of electrical
activity that is created by a depolarizing current.
This means that some event (a stimulus) causes the resting potential to move toward 0 mV.
When the depolarization reaches about -55 mV a neuron will fire an action potential. This is
the threshold.

Types of ions found in neurons

In neurons and their surrounding fluid, the most abundant ions
are:

In most neurons, K+, and organic anions (such as those found

in proteins and amino acids) are present at higher
concentrations inside the cell than outside. In contrast, Na+
and Cl− are usually present at higher concentrations outside the
cell. This means there are stable concentration gradients
across the membrane for all of the most abundant ion types.
How ions cross the membrane
Because they are charged, ions can't pass directly through the
hydrophobic ("water-fearing") lipid regions of the membrane. Instead,
they have to use specialized channel proteins that provide a
hydrophilic ("water-loving") tunnel across the membrane. Some
channels, known as leak channels, are open in resting neurons. Others
are closed in resting neurons and only open in response to a signal.
o Some ion channels are highly selective for one type of ion,
but others let various kinds of ions pass through.
o Ion channels that mainly allow K+ to pass are called potassium
channels, and ion channels that mainly allow Na+ to pass are
called sodium channels.
o There are chloride channels that allow Cl− ions to cross the
plasma membrane.
o The situation is different for organic anions present in the
interior of the cell. Often, these anions are negatively charged
amino acid side chains in proteins. The proteins are typically
large and bulky and remain trapped inside the cell. Thus,
organic anions generally cannot cross the membrane like Na+
and K+.

What happens if only K+ can cross the

membrane?

We'll start out with K+ at a higher concentration inside the cell

than in the surrounding fluid, just as for a regular neuron.
If potassium channels in the membrane open, K+ will begin to
move down its concentration gradient and out of the cell. Every
time a K+ ion leaves the cell, the cell's interior loses a positive
charge. Because of this, a slight excess of positive charge
builds up on the outside of the cell membrane, and a slight
excess of negative charge builds up on the inside. That is, the
inside of the cell becomes negative relative to the outside,
setting up a difference in electrical potential across the
membrane.

Action potentials are caused when different ions

cross the neuron membrane.
Action potentials are caused when different ions cross the neuron membrane. A stimulus first
causes sodium channels to open. Because there are many more sodium ions on the outside,
and the inside of the neuron is negative relative to the outside, sodium ions rush into the
neuron. Remember, sodium has a positive charge, so the neuron becomes more positive and
becomes depolarized. It takes longer for potassium channels to open. When they do open,
potassium rushes out of the cell, reversing the depolarization. Also at about this time, sodium
channels start to close. This causes the action potential to go back toward -70 mV (a
repolarization). The action potential actually goes past -70 mV (a hyperpolarization) because
the potassium channels stay open a bit too long. Gradually, the ion concentrations go back to
resting levels and the cell returns to -70 mV.

k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbUcWbtVjT4